The pianist Hélia Soveral

The pianist Hélia Soveral studied under Luiz Costa at Porto Music Conservatory. She later joined the Conservatory staff between 1947 and 1984. She attended refresher courses with Guido Agosti at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Sienna; and with Reine Gianoli and Isabelle Ponciu in Paris, on a grant from the Calouste Gulbenkian. She performed six Chopin études at the last Interpretation Course given by Alfred Cortot in Paris. She gave many recitals and concerts, solo and with orchestra. At Porto Music Conservatory Hélia Soveral promoted various student sessions premiering works by Portuguese composers such as Cláudio Carneyro, Berta Alves de Souza and Filipe Pires, in which she herself took part. In this programme, note the first performances of the Bagatelas (piano) by the composer Filipe Pires, and Exotic Dance and Modal Toccata for two pianos by Berta Alves de Souza, dedicated to the pianist.