
Óscar
da Silva
Composer, pianist, considered the last of the great Portuguese romantics and simultaneously the initiator of modern music in Portugal, Óscar da Silva (1870-1958) was recognized, in life, as a great composer and a brilliant performer, especially of Chopin and Schumann. He was born in Oporto and died in Leça da Palmeira. In 1892 he wins a Rainha D. Amélia scholarship and travels to Germany, where he continues his studies at the Leipzig Conservatory with Clara Schumann. In 1930 he leaves to Brazil, where he remains about twenty years, only returning to Portugal accepting António Salazar's invitation. In 1935, he sees much of his work published and receive the Ordem de Santiago e Espada. Some scores of piano works of Óscar da Silva were issued by the prestigious C. F. Peters, Leipzig.