Benjamin da Cunha Neto
Born in the city of Rio de Janeiro, has graduated at the Brazilian Conservatory of Music and received a Master Degree in Music from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, he is a member of the Academy of Letters and Music of Brazil (chair 22), whose patron was Jacques Klein. He was professor of piano at the Federal University of Uberlândia and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. At the invitation of several Brazilian universities, he has been teaching courses in Pianistic Interpretation, Chamber Music and Piano Master Class.
He held numerous recitals in Brazil and abroad, as well as being awarded in several renowned piano contests. He made recordings for TVE, for Rádio MEC (in the program "MUSIC AND MUSICIANS OF BRAZIL"), for an album of the series "FUTUROS MESTRES EM MÚSICA" and of the CD "INTÉRPRETES E COMPOSITORES BRASILEIROS", coordinated by the pianist Miriam Ramos. Under the direction of Norma Bengell, he also recorded for the cinema, in the film “ANTONIETTA RUDGE: THE ECSTASY IN MOVEMENT”.
In 2016, his recital “Omaggio ad Almeida Prado” at the Brazilian Embassy in Rome, was registered by Radio Vatican and broadcast throughout Italy and, through Eurovision and the BBC, distributed to 53 countries.
He acted as a soloist for the National Symphony Orchestra and the Recife Symphony Orchestra.
BIENNIALS IN WHICH IT PARTICIPATED
2009 - XVIII Biennial of Contemporary Brazilian Music, held at Sala Cecília Meirelles : world premiere of the 14 piano miniatures by Almeida Prado.
2007 - XVII Biennial of Contemporary Brazilian Music, held at Sala Cecília Meirelles: world premiere of the “CARTAS CELESTES XIII” by the composer Almeida Prado;
2003 - XV Biennial of Contemporary Brazilian Music, held at Sala Cecília Meirelles: world premiere of “SONATA Nº 11, dedicated to him”, by composer H. David Korenchendler;
2001 - XIV Biennial of Contemporary Brazilian Music, held at Sala Cecília Meirelles: world premiere of the “CARTAS CELESTES XIV” that composer Almeida Prado dedicated to him;
1989 - VIII Biennial of Contemporary Brazilian Music, held at Sala Cecília Meirelles: world premiere of “TOCCATA PARA PIANO” by composer Leonardo de Sá, a work that was dedicated to him and served as the object of his Master's Dissertation
The artists who, in one way or another, participated in their formation, made highlighted some of his fundamental qualities, which they deemed worthy of attention:
Magda Tagliaferro praised “his exceptional piano gifts and extreme musical sensibility”;
Nelson Freire referred to his “sensibility, intelligence, vital interest in music, combined with great power of expression”;
Almeida Prado stated: “I certainly acknowledge Benjamin da Cunha Neto as a great artist, serious, fully matured, full of fantasy, lyricism and perfect technique. His great talent produces ripe fruits of true beauty ”.
