The pianist Helena Sá e Costa

Helena Moreira de Sá e Costa (1913 -2006), granddaughter of Bernardo Moreira de Sá, and daughter of the pianists Leonilda Moreira de Sá e Costa and Luiz Costa, began her studies first with her parents and then with Vianna da Motta. She contacted several pianists such as Emil von Sauer or Backhaus and from the age of 18 pursued studies in Paris with Alfred Cortot and Paul Loyonnet. She made his debut at the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos at age 19, accompanied by an orchestra directed by Pedro Blanch. She made several tours of America and Europe, performing recitals and courses such as his participation in the Mozarteum Summer Academy. He contacted artists such as Pierre Fournier, Maurice Gendron, Sandor Végh, Arthur Grumiaux, Janos Starker, L. Hoelscher, Ruggiero Ricci, Teresa Stich-Randall, Rita Gorr, Zara Nelsova, Pablo Casals, Alfred Brendel or Edwin Fischer, with whom she has partnered in 40 concerts in the main cities of Europe, playing the concerts of 2, 3 and 4 pianos of JS Bach. In the field of chamber music, stand out the numerous concerts with her sister, cellist Madalena de Sá e Costa and the Trio Portugália, with the formation of Henry Mouton - violin, Madalena de Sá e Costa - cello and Helena de Sá and Costa - piano. Parallel to the artistic activity, she was piano teacher in the Conservatory of Music of Porto from 1949 to 1968, occupying the place left by her father, Luiz Costa, and has conducted throughout her life numerous courses and Masterclasses both in Portugal and abroad in countries such as Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, the United States and Canada. Her enormous prestige led her to participate in national and international competitions such as Berlin, Berne, Vianna da Motta (in Lisbon), Palma de Mallorca, Maria Callas (in Athens) and Luiz Costa (in Porto). among many others.