Isis Moreira

Origin

Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, ES

Also known as

Isis Costa Mendes Moreira

Years active

1972–2024

Genres

classical music, piano

Instruments

piano

Biography

Isis Moreira was a renowned Brazilian pianist, born in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espírito Santo, on May 28, 1934. Her musical career was marked by a deep mastery of classical piano, having perfected her craft with masters such as Hans Graf and Bruno Seidlhofer at the Vienna Academy. Her dedication and talent led her to achieve remarkable feats, such as the recording of Beethoven's Sonata op. 106, the Hammerklavier, in 1972, being considered the first female pianist in the world to perform this complex work.

Throughout her career, Isis Moreira performed on important Brazilian stages, including TV-2 Cultura, MASP, and the Municipal Theater of São Paulo. Her work also extended to regional actions, such as the "Ação-Arte Valeparaíba 75" program. In addition to her performances, she collaborated with other great names in Brazilian music, such as the composer Almeida Prado, with whom she played the piece "Exoflora" alongside the Municipal Symphony Orchestra of São Paulo, under Prado's own baton.

Isis Moreira's legacy is preserved in her vast collection, which includes concert photos, programs, recordings in various formats (cassette tapes, reel-to-reel tapes, LPs), newspaper clippings, piano methods, and sheet music. This material, forwarded by her son João Roberto Moreira Neto to CDM SJC, bears witness to the importance of her contribution to Brazilian classical music. Isis Moreira passed away in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, on August 29, 2024.