Among the biggest secrets to the outside world (—which only seems to know this planet called Brazil as most famous for samba and Carnaval—) is the long tradition of outstanding Brazilian pianists.
Guiomar Novaes, Magdalena Tagliaferro, Jacques Klein, Cristina Ortiz, Arnaldo Cohen, Roberto Szidon, Arthur Moreira Lima and of course Nelson Freire, are only some of the national products in what used to be called pianolandia.
Thursday evening at a noble theater of the Copacabana Palace—which MUST host more concerts in this now barren culturally neighborhood called Copacabana—we were privileged to hear a recital of Paris-based Paulista pianist Sonia Rubinsky.
The program included works by Mozart (Sonata no. 4), Beethoven (Sonata no. 30), Debussy´s inimitable “Children´s Corner”, Villa Loboses “Children´s Carnaval” and a rarely heard (for Brazil) “Liebesleid” by Fritz Kresiler and Sergei Rachmaninov, two refugees/immigrants in the pre-Trump USA.
The recital was all performed on the piano of the late Nelson Freire (Boa Esperança, Minas Gerais,1944-RJ,2021) which the Teatro had borrowed for the event.
The recital was dedicated to the great Brazilian musician reminding us that Oscars can go not only to made-in-Brazil films but to local musicians and composers.
Ms. Rubinsky has a light, delicate touch which reminds this listener of the Austrian pianist Ingrid Haebler (Vienna,1929-2023) and Haebler’ s modesty rather than show biz approach of today’s piano superstars .
Her program was obviously well planned and programmed and besides the local rarity of program notes included another rarity, an intermission for one´s ears (among other bodily parts) to rest.
Hopefully the Teatro will be used more frequently for concerts as our beloved neighborhood of Copacabana is over-populated not only by the senior citizens but by drug stores and super markets where theaters, movie houses and night clubs once thrived.
PS—The Brazilian adage is “Home Saints Don´t make Miracles” and in this oboist´s experience of playing only 36 years in local orchestras I never had the pleasure to perform with Ms. Rubinsky.