Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

Portugal

Birth

:

April 22, 1868 in São Tomé

Death

:

June 1, 1948 in Lisbon, Portugal

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

José Vianna da Motta was a Portuguese pianist and composer who was born on April 22, 1868, in São Tomé and Príncipe, a Portuguese colony in Africa. His father was a Portuguese diplomat, and his mother was a Brazilian pianist. Vianna da Motta showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. He gave his first public performance at the age of six and was soon recognized as a child prodigy. In 1879, Vianna da Motta moved to Lisbon with his family, where he continued his musical studies. He studied piano with Rafael Joseffy, a Hungarian pianist, and composition with Luís de Freitas Branco, a Portuguese composer. In 1885, Vianna da Motta traveled to Berlin to study with Franz Liszt, one of the greatest pianists and composers of the time. He spent two years studying with Liszt and became one of his favorite pupils. Vianna da Motta's career as a pianist began in earnest in 1888 when he won the first prize at the Paris Conservatory's International Piano Competition. He was the first Portuguese musician to win an international competition, and his victory brought him international recognition. He went on to perform in major European cities, including London, Berlin, Vienna, and Moscow. He also toured the United States, where he performed in New York, Boston, and other cities. Vianna da Motta was not only a virtuoso pianist but also a prolific composer. He composed in a variety of genres, including piano music, chamber music, orchestral music, and opera. His music is characterized by its lyricism, harmonic richness, and technical brilliance. He was influenced by Liszt, Chopin, and Wagner, but he also incorporated elements of Portuguese folk music into his compositions. Vianna da Motta's most famous work is his Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 16, which he composed in 1893. The concerto is a virtuosic tour de force for the soloist, with a dramatic opening movement, a lyrical second movement, and a lively finale. The concerto has been recorded by many pianists, including Vianna da Motta himself. Vianna da Motta also composed several operas, including "A Serrana," which premiered in Lisbon in 1910. The opera is based on a Portuguese folk tale and tells the story of a young shepherd who falls in love with a mountain girl. The opera is notable for its use of Portuguese folk melodies and rhythms. Vianna da Motta was also a respected music educator. He taught piano and composition at the Lisbon Conservatory and was appointed its director in 1917. He was instrumental in modernizing the conservatory's curriculum and introducing new teaching methods. He also founded the Portuguese Music Society, which aimed to promote Portuguese music and musicians. Vianna da Motta died on June 1, 1948, in Lisbon, at the age of 80. He left behind a legacy as one of Portugal's greatest musicians and a pioneer of Portuguese classical music. His music continues to be performed and recorded today, and his influence can be heard in the works of later Portuguese composers.

More....