Oscar Borgerth

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years Active

1921–1976

Genres

classical music, chamber music

Instruments

violin

Biography

Oscar Borgerth was born in Rio de Janeiro on December 16, 1906, standing out as one of the greatest violinists and teachers of Brazilian classical music in the 20th century. He began his musical studies on the piano at his father's encouragement and later dedicated himself to the violin, completing his education at the National Music Institute in 1925 with the highest honors. At a young age, he undertook international tours in Europe and South America, performing as concertmaster in major ensembles such as the Orchestra of the Theatro Municipal of Rio de Janeiro and the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra.

His artistic career was deeply intertwined with the country's cultural vanguard, having been a close friend of Heitor Villa-Lobos and portrayed by Cândido Portinari in the emblematic 1931 painting The Violinist. As the leader of the Borgerth Quartet — formed alongside his wife Alda Gomes Grosso, Iberê Gomes Grosso, and Affonso Henriques Garcia —, he encouraged the creation of several chamber pieces dedicated to the group by national composers. In addition to his intense activity as a concertist and soloist in the premieres of foundational works, he consolidated a solid academic career as a professor of violin at UFRJ between 1944 and 1976.

Oscar Borgerth's legacy remains alive in the history of Brazilian classical music through his tireless dissemination of national composers and the training of new generations of musicians, being revered by former students such as Guilherme Bauer. Throughout his life, he received important honors, such as the Gold Medal of the National Music Institute and the Harriet Cohen International Music Award in London. The acclaimed violinist passed away in his hometown on November 25, 1992, leaving a unique contribution to the development of chamber music and symphonic performance in Brazil.

Discography

• Música e Romance, N° 1 (1953)
• Camargo Guarnieri / Claudio Santoro - Oscar Borgerth, Ilara Gomes Grosso – Sonata / Cantiga de Ninar / Canto No 1 / Sonata / Sonata para Violino Só (1968)
• Oscar Borgerth, Ilara Gomes Grosso, Heitor Villa-Lobos – Sonata-Fantasia (Desperance) (1979)
• Paulo Florence, Claudio Santoro e Camargo Guarnieri - Oscar Borgerth – Sonata Fantasia / Sonata para Violino Solo / Canto No. 1 e Sonata No. 4 (1979)
• Villa-Lobos (1997)
• Jose Siqueira, Oscar Borgerth / Iberê Gomes Grosso, Orquestra Sinfonica Nacional – Concerto para Violino e Orquestra / Concerto para Violoncelo e Orquestra
• Camargo Guarnieri / Claudio Santoro - Oscar Borgerth, Ilara Gomes Grosso – Sonata / Cantiga de Ninar / Canto No 1 / Canto No 1 / Sonata para Violino Só