Guiomar Novaes

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Guiomar Novaes (February 28, 1895 – March 7, 1979) was a legendary Brazilian pianist. Her individuality of tone and phrasing, her extraordinary singing line, and the subtle and nuanced approach to her interpretations mark her as one of the outstanding pianists of the twentieth century.

Born in São João da Boa Vista(in the area of São Paulo state in Brazil), Novaes started her studies in Brazil under a pupil of Ferruccio Busoni. Moving to France in the 1910’s, she was accepted by Debussy, among others, to join the Conservatoire de Paris. Returning to Brazil during World War I, after a brief but important tour in Europe, Novaes started coming to the U.S. for performances, mostly in New York City.

Novaes was renowned for her interpretations of Chopin, Schumann and to a lesser extent Debussy, full of nuances and insights. She left a variety of hard to find recordings - including an antologic recording of the Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4, with Otto Klemperer and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra -, greatly sought by musicians. Novaes died in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1979.

Novaes's Chopin recordings: Voxbox Legends (3 CD set), CDX3 3501. This remarkable set contains several etudes, nocturnes, and the B-Flat minor piano sonata.