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About Simone
Known for her intense vitality, ample technical means, strong rhythmic drive and fire in her performances, Simone Leitão continues to rise as one of the most exciting pianists of her generation to emerge from Brazil. Simone always performs at her highest level and is not afraid to take risks.
"Momoprecoce, fantasy for piano and orchestra, represents Villa-Lobos' modernist vein...Leitão was the capable, note-perfect soloist in this eleborate work, a concerto in everything but name. She was most convincing in the dreamy, rhapsodic sections in which she displayed stirring lyrical sweep."
Lawrence Budmen - South Florida Classical Review - November 21, 2009.
"Simone Leitão lució su asombrosa destreza y magnífica memoria con una interpretación impecable. Esta obra se eleva con un trasfondo de lenguaje sinfónico impresionista, mientras que el piano se despliega en caprichoso derroche de juegos técnicos y osadías en las que prácticamente se exploran todas las posibilidades del instrumento."
Daniel Fernandez - El Nuevo Herald - November 25, 2009.
Luiz Paulo Horta, music critic of O GLOBO newspaper wrote:
"Simone left an excellent impression...the climax was Prokofieff's Sixth Sonata. There is everything in this piece for a great pianist. Simone walked through this realm showing flawless technique and temperament. She can go further". June 2008.
The Brazilian pianist Simone Leitão, born in Minas Gerais, lives in the United States where she graduated as DMA (2009) in piano performance at the University of Miami, Frost School of Music, in the studio of Ivan Davis (pupil of Vladimir Horowitz), with a minor degree in Musicology.
For 2010 season, Simone will make a solo piano tour in China, Brazil and USA. All these tours are fully sponsored. She will also make 8 appearances as soloist with orchestras in Brazil and the U.S. while continuing to promote the Symphonic music of her country in the U.S. through her Brazil Classical Series in its second year.
Simone Leitão holds a Master Degree in Piano Performance from Norges MusikkHögskole (The Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo, where she graduated from the studio of Geir Braaten (pupil of Yvonne Lefebure) and BM in Music Education by the University of Rio de Janeiro. Simone got her piano training from: Linda Bustani (pupil of Iakov Zak) and Homero Magalhães (pupil of Alfred Cortot and Bruno Seidlhofer). She has frequently performed as soloist and chamber musician in Brazil, USA, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and Norway.
Simone has performed at the Knight Hall of the Adrienne Arsht Center, Gewandhaus Zu Leipzig, Linderman Saal, São Paulo Hall, Sala Cecilia Meireles, Gusman Hall, Teatro Castro Alves, among others and has recorded for nationwide Brazilian TV Senado and Radio MEC.
With a prolific repertoire which ranges from Byrd, Bach and Rameau to Guarnieri, Villa-Lobos, Prokofieff, Scriabin and Rachmaninoff, Simone is a curious and creative interpreter who will research to find always a more communicative way to present the music of the past and present to the today's audience.
Simone's 2009 concert season included a fully sponsored tour in Brazil's most important music venues, recitals in the U.S., the launching of the Brazil Classical Series when she was the soloist for the Miami Symphony Orchestra conducted by Luiz Fernando Malheiro.
