Olga Praguer Coelho

Origin

Manaus, AM

Genres

brazilian folk music, samba, seresta

Instruments

guitar, vocals

Biography

Olga Praguer Coelho was born in Manaus on August 12, 1909, moving to Salvador in her childhood and later settling in Rio de Janeiro in 1923. From a very young age she showed artistic talent, singing and studying at the conservatory where she developed her vocal technique and learned to play the guitar under the tutelage of masters such as Patrício Teixeira. Her stage debut took place in the 1920s, followed by her first record recording for Odeon Records in 1929, performing popular songs such as the embolada "A mosca na moça".

She specialized in the interpretation of Brazilian folk music, having acted prominently at the inauguration of Rádio Tupi. In 1936, she was appointed representative of national music in Europe, which led her to perform in Germany during the Olympic Games. With the support of important cultural figures such as Heitor Villa-Lobos, Olga took her art to the United States, where she gave notable performances, including a performance at the White House in 1938, and maintained a long relationship with the Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia.

After decades of international tours and spreading Brazilian culture around the world, she returned to Brazil in the 1970s to work on radio and television programs. Her artistic contribution was widely recognized throughout her career, culminating in receiving the Order of Cultural Merit in 2004. Olga Praguer Coelho passed away in Rio de Janeiro on February 25, 2008, leaving a pioneering legacy as a guitarist and interpreter.

Discography

• The Art of Olga Praguer Coelho (2018)
• Embajadora del folclore brasileño (2023)