Magda Tagliaferro

Magdalena Maria Yvonne Tagliaferro (19 January 1893 – 9 September 1986) was a Brazilian-born pianist of French parents. Born in Petropolis, Brazil, she studied under Antonin Marmontel at the Paris conservatoire and with Alfred Cortot. She developed a reputation for striving towards the realization of the musical ideals exemplified by Cortot: a perfect union of clarity and tenderness, inner strength and emotion and classical balance in shaping the works being interpreted.

During her studies at the conservatoire, the director, Gabriel Fauré invited her on a short tour with him. Later, she performed many of his compositions. During her career, her recital engagements took her to the musical centre of more than 30 countries in Europe, Africa, America, and Asia. She was also very active as a soloist performing with celebrated orchestras. Tagliaferro appeared with the elite of 20th century conductors, among them Weingartner, Dobrowen, Monteux, Furtwängler, Knappertsbusch, Paul Paray, d'Indy, Inghelbrecht, Ionescu-Galati and Georgescu. Other solo artists, such as Cortot, Jacques Thibaud, Enescu, Jules Boucherit and Casals, performed with her in joint recitals. Composers sought her for premieres of their works, sometimes specifically intending that Tagliaferro be the first artist to perform the piece. She, in turn, applied herself to performing new works by composers such as Hahn, Rivier, Pierné, and Villa-Lobos.

She had an important career as a pedagogue. She taught at the Paris conservatoire from 1937 to 1939, created her own school in Paris and later in Rio de Janeiro and in Sao Paulo. She gave numerous masterclasses in many countries and created a piano competition. Among her innumerable students, one can mention Pnina Salzman, Jeanne Demessieux, Lycia de Biase Bidart, Flavio Varani, Cristina Ortiz, Jorge Luis Prats and James Tocco.

Tagliaferro maintained a critically acclaimed capacity for beautifully crafted playing into her nineties. She died in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

External links

• Profile at Naxos