10 Facts About Magda Tagliaferro

Magdalena Maria Yvonne Tagliaferro was a Brazilian pianist of French parentage.

Magda Tagliaferro's father, who had studied piano with Raoul Pugno in Paris, was a voice and piano professor in Sao Paulo.

Magda Tagliaferro's father arranged for her to play for Pugno, who was impressed and recommended her to Antonin Marmontel at the Conservatoire.

Magda Tagliaferro entered the Conservatoire in 1906 in Marmontel's class and was awarded the Premier Prix in 1907.

Magda Tagliaferro developed a reputation for striving towards the realization of the musical ideals exemplified by Cortot: a perfect union of clarity and tenderness, inner strength and emotion and classical balance in shaping the works being interpreted.

Magda Tagliaferro was very active as a soloist, performing with many leading orchestras and performed with many distinguished conductors, including Felix Weingartner, Issay Dobrowen, Pierre Monteux, Wilhelm Furtwangler, Hans Knappertsbusch, Paul Paray, Vincent d'Indy and Desire-Emile Inghelbrecht.

Composers sought her for premieres of their works, sometimes specifically intending that Magda Tagliaferro be the first artist to perform their compositions.

Magda Tagliaferro created her own school in Paris and later in Rio de Janeiro and in Sao Paulo.

Magda Tagliaferro gave numerous masterclasses in many countries and created a piano competition.

Magda Tagliaferro maintained a critically acclaimed capacity for beautifully crafted playing into her nineties.