Georgia Szpílman brings an intimate musical tribute to Brazil’s pioneering 19th-century composer to a new Rio venue this March.
Ninety years after her death, the music of Chiquinha Gonzaga still moves, provokes, and inspires. This March — the month of International Women’s Day — soprano Georgia Szpílman, a member of the chorus at the Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, pays tribute to this groundbreaking Brazilian composer with a special performance in the heart of Rio’s Botafogo neighborhood.
The show, “Um Encontro com Chiquinha Gonzaga” (An Encounter with Chiquinha Gonzaga), takes place on March 20, Friday, at 8 PM, at Acaso Cultural, a new cultural space on Rua Vicente de Sousa, nº 16. The 50-minute performance blends lyrical recital and historical narrative in an intimate setting that draws audiences into the composer’s extraordinary life.
Music, history, and connection
Georgia Szpílman performs beloved pieces from Chiquinha’s catalog — including Abre-Alas, Corta Jaca, Lua Branca, and Flor Amorosa — alongside pianist Maria Luisa Lundberg and clarinetist Moisés Santos, principal clarinet of the Theatro Municipal Symphony Orchestra. Between songs, contextualized commentary transports audiences to 19th-century Brazil, where a woman choosing art over convention was nothing short of revolutionary.
The project began over a decade ago when Georgia discovered the biography Chiquinha Gonzaga: Uma história de vida by writer Edinha Diniz. Captivated, she sought out the author directly. “Curious, I reached out to the biographer, who revealed to me some facts that didn’t make it into the book — and depending on where I perform, I share them in a subtle way,” she explains.
I confess that in many moments I tried to think the way she did. In my work, I try to be daring, breaking with patterns and not giving in to the pressures of the status quo. At every concert over these 10 years, it feels as if she is still alive. I see in the audience’s eyes a curiosity about her life as I tell her stories — and a certain complicity. Ninety years have passed since her death, but her music is alive and still provoking. — Georgia Szpílman, soprano
A pioneer who defied convention
Chiquinha Gonzaga (1847–1935) was the first woman to conduct an orchestra in Brazil and one of the country’s most prolific composers, with more than 2,000 works to her name. She defied gender and racial prejudice at every turn, abandoning an imposed marriage to live freely as an artist — a radical act in 19th-century Brazilian society.
For Georgia Szpílman, Chiquinha represents far more than music. “She is resistance and proof of feminine strength,” says the soprano, who has watched the project evolve and deepen with every performance over ten years.
Full repertoire
Abre-Alas, Anita, Machuca, Corte na Roça, Mulatinha, Meditação, A Feijoada Brasileira, Não Insista Rapariga, Lua Branca, Corta Jaca, Água da Fonte do Vintém, Tango Brasileiro para Piano, Beijo, Atraente, Flor Amorosa, and Valsa do Amor.
Event info
An Encounter with Chiquinha Gonzaga
Featuring Georgia Szpílman (soprano), Maria Luísa Lundberg (piano), and Moisés Santos (clarinet)
Date: March 20, 2026 (Friday)
Time: 8 PM
Venue: Acaso Cultural — Rua Vicente de Sousa, nº 16, Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro
Tickets: BRL 60–120 — bileto.sympla.com.br/event/115758/d/363271
Rating: General admission (all ages)
Duration: 50 minutes
Photo: Arthur Moura
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