Elsie Houston

Background

Elsie Houston was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1902.

Career

She was the descendent of confederados, southern plantation owners that had come to Brazil after the American Civil War. Elsie"s father was James Frank Houston, a prominent Rio dentist and Elsie Houston"s mother, Arinda Galdo, was a native of Rio de Janeiro, and had Portuguese roots in the Madeira Islands. Elsie Houston figured in the Brazilian literary/art/music scene during a critical time in its history.

lieutenant was an era of tremendous creative energy.

She then studied with another famed soprano, Ninon Vallin, first in Argentina and then in Paris. Houston"s relationship with Heitor Villa Lobos began in her teens.

Houston was definitely a soloist at Villa Lobos"s 1927 Paris concerts. Their son, Geyser, was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1931.

By the late 1930s, Elsie Houston had moved to New New York

She was a brilliant singer, particularly skilled in the interpretation of Brazilian songs. The New York Times during this era praised for her performances. She was also an active supporter of young Latin American composers, performing early pieces by composers such as Jayme Ovalle and Camargo Guarnieri.

She died in 1943, her death was listed as an apparent suicide.

Membership

In addition to Mário de Andrade and Patricia Galvão ( Pagu), Elsie Houston knew others famous members of this artists movement, including the composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, the painters Flavio de Carvalho, Anita Malfatti and Tarsila do Amaral, and the leader of Brazilian modernism, Oswald de Andrade.

Connections

teacher:

Lilli Lehmann