Helena Sá e Costa

Who was Helena Sá e Costa?

The pianist, concert performer and teacher, Helena Moreira de Sá e Costa, was born in Porto on 26 May 1913 and died 9 January 2006 at the age of 92. She was the granddaughter of Bernardo Valentim Moreira de Sá and daughter of the pianist Leonilda Moreira de Sá e Costa and the pianist and composer Luís Costa. She completed her course at Lisbon National Piano Conservatory with a maximum mark of 20 out of 20, having been taught by her parents and the Master, Viana da Mota. She also studied with Alfred Cortot and Edwin Fischer, with whom she performed in 40 concerts in Europe’s major cities, playing JS Bach’s piano concerto nos. 2, 3 and 4.

Her concert performances took her many times to Spain, France, England, Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Hungary, Italy, America, Canada, Brazil, Angola and Mozambique. She worked with all the Portuguese orchestra conductors and others of high renown, such as the maestros Ernest Ansermet, Igor Markevitch, Paul Klecki, Swarowky, etc.

Among the artists she worked with in concert performances were Pierre Fournier, Maurice Gendron, Sándor Végh, Arthur Grumiaux, János Starker, L.