Elizeth Cardoso

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

Elizete Cardoso, A Divina, Elizeth Moreira Cardoso

Years Active

1936–1990

Genres

samba, choro, samba-canção, bossa nova, MPB

Instruments

vocals

Biography

Elizeth Cardoso, nicknamed "A Divina" (The Divine), was one of the most prestigious and technically proficient voices in the history of Brazilian music. Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1920, she was raised in a musical environment near the Mangueira hill. Her talent was discovered at her 16th birthday party by the legendary mandolinist Jacob do Bandolim, who subsequently invited her to audition for Radio Guanabara. This marked the beginning of a prolific career that saw her transition from the golden age of radio to becoming a cornerstone of modern Brazilian genres.

She holds a pivotal place in music history for her role in the birth of Bossa Nova. In 1958, she recorded the landmark album "Canção do Amor Demais," featuring the sophisticated compositions of Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes. This record is widely considered the inaugural work of the Bossa Nova movement, notably featuring the innovative guitar style of a young João Gilberto. Throughout the 1950s, she was also a leading figure of the "samba-canção" era, often compared to contemporary vocalists like Maysa and Dalva de Oliveira for her emotive and dramatic interpretations.

In the following decades, Cardoso continued to bridge the gap between traditional and modern sounds. She collaborated extensively with masters of samba and choro, such as Pixinguinha and Cartola, and hosted influential television programs like "Bossaudade." Her 1968 concert at the João Caetano Theater with the Zimbo Trio remains one of the most iconic live performances in Brazilian history. With a career spanning over five decades and dozens of albums, she remains a primary influence for generations of Brazilian singers, recognized for her perfect tuning and immense vocal range.

Discography

• Rio em Cetim (1950)
• Lua Chela de Mim (1950)
• Canções Á Meia Luz com Elizete Cardoso (1955)
• Fim de Noite (1956)
• Noturno (1957)
• Herivelto Martins - Vicente Paiva com Sua Orquestra e Escola de Samba / Elizete Cardoso – Um Compositor em Dois Tempos (Jubileu de Prata de Herivelto Martins) (1957)
• Elizeth Cardoso, Heleninha Costa, Carminha Mascarenhas – Música e Poesia de Fernando Lobo (1957)
• Canção do Amor Demais (1958)
• Retrato da Noite (1958)
• Naturalmente (1959)
• Magnífica (1959)
• Elizeth Cardoso, Moacyr Silva – Sax Voz (1960)
• A Meiga Elizete (1960)
• Elizeth Cardoso, Moacyr Silva – Sax Voz Nº2 (1961)
• A Meiga Elizete Nº 2 (1961)
• Elizeth, A Exclusiva (1962)
• Grandes Momentos com Elizeth Cardoso (1962)
• Elizete Interpreta Vinicius (1963)
• A Meiga Elizete Nº 3 (1963)
• A Meiga Elizete Nº 4 (1963)
• A Meiga Elizete Nº 5 (1964)
• La Cálida Elizete (1964)
• Quatrocentos Anos de Samba (1965)
• Elizete Sobe O Morro (1965)
• 400 Anos de Samba (1965)
• Muito Elizeth (1966)
• Elizeth Cardoso e Ciro Monteiro – A Bossa Eterna de Elizeth e Ciro (1966)
• A Enluarada Elizeth (1967)
• Elizeth Cardoso & Zimbo Trio & Jacob Do Bandolim – Vol. 1 (1968)
• Momento de Amor (1968)
• Elizeth Cardoso & Zimbo Trio & Jacob Do Bandolim – Vol. 2 (1968)
• Elizeth Cardoso e Cyro Monteiro – A Bossa Eterna de Elizeth e Cyro Vol. 2 (1969)
• Elizeth e Zimbo Trio Balançam na Sucata (1969)
• Elizeth com Banda do Sodré – No Bola Preta (1970)
• Falou e Disse (1970)
• Elizeth Cardoso & Zimbo Trio – É de Manhã (1970)
• Elizeth No Bola Preta (1970)
• Elizeth Cardoso e Silvio Caldas Vol. 2 (1971)
• Elizeth Cardoso e Silvio Caldas (1971)
• Elizeth Cardoso e Silvio Caldas (Vol. 1) (1971)
• Preciso Aprender a Ser Só (1972)
• Feito em Casa (1974)
• Mulata Maior (1974)
• Elizeth Cardoso (1976)
• Vol. 1 (1976)
• Elizeth Cardoso, Jacob do Bandolim, Zimbo Trio, Época de Ouro – Vol. 3 - Fragmentos Inéditos do Histórico Recital (1977)
• Live In Japan (1977)
• A Cantadeira Do Amor (1978)
• A Cantadeira do Amor (Vol. 1 e Vol. 2) (1978)
• O Inverno Do Meu Tempo (1979)
• Elizethíssima (1981)
• Elizeth Cardoso Recital (1982)
• Outra Vez Elizeth (1982)
• Elizeth com Radamés Gnattali & Camerata Carioca – Elizeth - Uma Rosa para Pixinguinha (1983)
• Elizeth Cardoso e Ataulfo Jr. – Leva Meu Samba (1984)
• Luz e Esplendor (1986)
• Herivelto Martins, Elizeth Cardoso, Pery Ribeiro, Zezé Motta, Trio de Ouro, as Gatas – Que Rei Sou Eu? (1989)
• Ary Amoroso (1989)
• A Divina Elizeth - Ao Vivo (1990)
• Elizeth Cardoso & Rafael Rabello – Todo O Sentimento (1991)
• Mestres da MPB (1994)
• Frente a Frente (1995)
• Canção da volta (2001)
• The Latin Icons (2015)
• Outra Vez (2021)
• Achados & Perdidos (2021)
• Se Balancean En Sucanta (2022)
• Uma Noite em Maio - Samba For The Night (2023)
• Sua Melhor Época (2024)
• Canções de Amor e Paixão - O Encanto de Elizeth Cardoso (2024)
• Agostinho dos Santos, Elizeth Cardoso – Bande Originale Du Film Orfeu Negro
• Elizeth Cardoso, Zimbo Trio, Jacob do Bandolim, Época de Ouro – Ao Vivo no Teatro João Caetano