Biography

Guiomar Novaes

Guiomar Novaes (February 28, 1895 - March 7, 1979) was a Brazilian pianist noted for individuality of tone and phrasing, singing line, and a subtle and nuanced approach to her interpretations. She studied with Antonietta Miller and Luigi Chiafarelli, 1909 in Paris with Isidor Phillip at the Paris Conservatory. Debut 1910 in Paris, toured in England, Switzerland and Germany, retourning to Brazil at the start of World War I. 1915 US debut in New York City. She continued her career into the 1970s. She is widely considered one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century. The legend of Guiomar Novaes has become a reality for America. Her amazing art has grown apace with the present years of her maturity. She weaves an exotic spell ·like an enchanted visitor from the strangeness of the tropic forests of her native Brazil. As is Willa Cather in literature, so is Novaes in music-delicate, remete, fragile; a voice heard far from every accent of the present work-a-day world. There is probably no pianist now before the public who is more genuinely liked than this eminent artist. Her enthusiastic welcomes everywhere are so pronounced that there is no mistaking the place she holds among lovers of transcendant piano playing. She performs with such warmth of temperament that nota moment, nota chord one might say, passes without a thrill. She stands nearer to the place once occupied by Teresa Carrefio than any one today. In the recent words of the universally recognized Chicago Daily Tribune: "Always a great pianist, Mme. Novaes would now seem to hold undisputed claim to the title of the greatest woman player of today." Guiomar Novaes was born in Sao Joao da Boa Vista in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. A child prodigy, at the age of four she was playing marches for her little friends in the kindergarten. A year later she started studying with Professor Chiaffarelli, and at seven she made her first public appearance, followed by a tour of her native country. He11 fame spread rapidly. The Brazilian government became interested in her and eventually sent the young girl to Paris, where she was admitted ta the famous Conservatoire after winning first honors from among 388 contestants. For two years she studied with lsidor Philipp; then she was awarded the Premier Prix du Conservatoire. Later in New York she coached with the famed Polish composer-pianist, Sigismond Stojowski. At sixteen she made her début as a mature artist. Engaged by the leading orchestras of Europe, she was an immediate success. Recitais followed in England, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and other countries - a whirlwind triumphant tour. Her memorable début in this country was a sensation, the noted critic of the New York Times stating: "Not every generation hears a Guiomar Novaes." Her subsequent annual tours of the United States and Canada have firmly established her as one of the superlative pianist talents of our time. Such are the extraordinary criticai tributes which have been paid to Guiomar Novaes that volumes would be required to print them. "With a Iimpid tone capable of the subtlest nuances, Mme. Novaes evoked romantic glamour, prismatic coloring, enchantment, in her magnificent playing." - Noel Straus, New York Times. "In the highly perfected ar! of Guiomar Novaes there was graciousness, caress of phrase, Iilt, chameleonic glints of coloc." - Oscar Thompson, New York Sun. "Any one who fears that bigwigs may be humdrum can take heart of grace when Guiomar Novaes is soloist. The Brazilian artist played with thematic richness, rhythmic witchery, enchanting finesse. The performance in its richly charted restraint held one spellbound." - Pitts Sanborn, New York World-Telegram. "Her playing was more than merely delightful. It was thoughtful. profound and moving, polished, refined, Iyrical." - Moses Smith, Boston Transcript. "Guiomar Novaes is one of the greatest pianists of the world." - Janet Gunn, Chicago Herald and Examiner. "She has a tone remarkable pure and firm, beautiful enough to remind us that the piano is one of mankind's noblest inventions." . . . - Eugene Stinson, Chicago Daily News. "Her technical capacities are prodigious and she is endowed with blazing temperament." . . . - Baltimore Post. "Mme. Novaes played with rich and glowing tone, power and restraint. New Orleans owes Brazil a debt of gratitude." - Cleveland Sessums, New Orleans Times - Picayune. "Novaes held her audieince in such suspended ecstasy that the tremendous ovation was inevitable. Undoubtedly, she surpassed the great Carreno's performance." - Carl Bronson, Los Angeles Herald and Express. "Novaes has a wonderful wizardry of tone-painting. Each of her selections was a revelation of great tonal art." - Toronto Daily Star. Biography short