The soprano Helena Vieira (1953), born in Lisbon, studied voice at the Conservatório Nacional between 1974 and 1978 in the class of Joana Silva. She later continued her training in Paris between 1979 and 1981 under the guidance of Elizabeth Grümmer and Hugo Diez, supported by a scholarship from the Secretaria de Estado da Cultura. She had already attended advanced courses with these same teachers in Lucerne between 1976 and 1978, and later pursued further training with Marimí del Pozo in Lisbon between 1987 and 1991.¹
She made her debut on March 1, 1978, at the Coliseu dos Recreios, performing the role of Musetta in La bohème, and shortly afterward, in June, she also debuted at the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos in the role of Vespina in La Spinalba. She later joined the company of that institution as a resident singer between 1984 and 1992, performing several leading roles. She also appeared frequently in recitals, concerts, and festivals in Portugal and abroad, under the direction of prominent conductors, and in 1986 she was awarded the Mozart Prize at the Brussels Opera and Belcanto Competition.²
She participated in recordings for RTP (Petite messe solennelle by Rossini, Liebeslieder Walzer by Brahms, Des Knaben Wunderhorn by Mahler, and La voix humaine by Poulenc), and also explored other musical styles, performing in shows with singers Rita Guerra and Lena d’Água. She additionally appeared as an actress in the television series A casa da saudade, with Filipe La Féria, and in the film As três palmeiras by João Botelho, activities that brought her a degree of public visibility.³
RTP Archives Interview (1985) Interview (2018)
