Trio honors Ernesto Nazareth in Rio this April

In Brazil’s Choro Month, “Para Sempre Ernesto Nazareth” brings soprano, piano and clarinet together at Centro da Música Carioca Artur da Távola on April 12 at 11am.

The Clássicos Domingos series opens April with a powerful tribute to one of Brazil’s most essential composers. The show “Para Sempre Ernesto Nazareth” (“Forever Ernesto Nazareth”) takes the stage at the Centro da Música Carioca Artur da Távola, in the Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, featuring soprano and actress Georgia Szpílman (voice and narration), pianist Yuka Shimizu, and clarinetist Moisés Santos.

The soul of Brazilian music on stage

Ernesto Nazareth (1863–1934) was a pianist and composer born in Rio de Janeiro who became one of the towering figures of choro — Brazil’s first distinctly urban popular music genre.  Heitor Villa-Lobos once called him “the true embodiment of the Brazilian soul.”  The concert weaves narration and music to tell the story of the young boy from a modest family whose discipline and sensitivity forged a musical legacy that still resonates around the world.

From Japan to Brazil, driven by Nazareth

Pianist Yuka Shimizu offers one of the concert’s most compelling stories. Born in Saitama, Japan, she first heard Nazareth’s iconic “Odeon” at age 12 and was instantly captivated.  She wrote a letter — in Japanese — to the celebrated Brazilian pianist Clara Sverner, asking for guidance. That leap of faith brought her to Brazil in 1997, where she has lived for 28 years, performing and teaching Brazilian music, especially in Japan, and carrying Nazareth’s compositions to international stages.

Three outstanding musicians

Moisés Santos serves as principal clarinetist of the Orquestra Sinfônica do Theatro Municipal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro and the Orquestra Filarmônica do RJ. Soprano Georgia Szpílman is a fixture at the Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, known for roles in Turandot, Le Nozze di Figaro, and Fosca, and for her deep engagement with Brazilian vocal repertoire. Together, the three artists create an evening that balances musical rigor with genuine emotional depth.

Concert program

• Você Bem Sabe — Ernesto Nazareth
• O Feitiço Não Mata — lyrics by Ary Kerner
• Tudo Sobe — music and lyrics by Ernesto Nazareth
• Brejeiro — Ernesto Nazareth
• Confidências — Ernesto Nazareth
• Sertaneja — lyrics by Catullo da Paixão Cearense
• A Florista — lyrics by Francisco Telles
• Apanhei-te Cavaquinho — Ernesto Nazareth
• Beija-Flor — music and lyrics by Ernesto Nazareth
• Odeon — Ernesto Nazareth
• Êxtase — music and lyrics by Ernesto Nazareth
• Gaúcho — Ernesto Nazareth
• Escorregando — Ernesto Nazareth

The Centro da Música Carioca Artur da Távola is a landmark cultural venue housed in the historic Palacete Garibaldi, a listed heritage building inaugurated as a music center in 2007.  Located in Tijuca, it holds a 161-seat concert hall and the Lúcio Rangel Library, a specialized music research collection.

Event Info

• Show: Para Sempre Ernesto Nazareth
• Featuring: Georgia Szpílman, Yuka Shimizu, and Moisés Santos
• Venue: Centro da Música Carioca Artur da Távola
• Address: Rua Conde de Bonfim, 824 — Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro
• Date: April 12, 2026 (Sunday)
• Time: 11am
• Tickets: BRL 60 (full price) / BRL 30 (half price) — available on Sympla
• Rating: All ages