This issue commemorates the birth of José Vianna da Motta in 1868. Aged 14, he finished his studies at the Lisbon Conservatory and moved to Berlin, with a bursary from the Portuguese king, for further studies of piano and composition. In 1885 he studied with Franz Liszt and in 1887 with Hans von Bülow. He then toured the world as a virtuoso pianist, giving critically acclaimed performances. He was considered a major interpreter of Liszt, Bach and Beethoven. Vianna da Motta gave recitals until 1945, three years before his death at age 80. In 1957, an international piano competition was started in his honour.
Vianna da Motta was also a pedagogue and composer. He taught briefly at the Conservatory of Geneva and was the Director of the Lisbon Conservatory from 1918 to 1938, reforming the teaching of music. He also composed several piano pieces and orchestral works. His only symphony À Pátria (To the Fatherland) is inspired by poems of Camões and follows the formal structure of Beethoven’s symphonies in 4 movements. The third movement includes two portuguese folk songs.
The stamps show an oil portrait painted in 1928 by Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, belonging to the Chiado Museum, in Lisbon.
The stamps were lithographed by the Mint on enamelled paper sheets of 5×10 stamps with perforation 12, and circulated from 24 September 1969 to 30 Abril 1975.
| Stamp | Print run | Afinsa | Gibbons | Michel | Scott | Yvert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.00 | 9,500,000 | 1053 | 1368 | 1082 | 1050 | |
| 9.00 | 500,000 | 1054 | 1369 | 1083 | 1051 |
Additional sources:
- Vianna da Motta, Portuguese Wikipedia, accessed 28 August 2011.
- Columbano Últimos Dias, Museu do Chiado exhibition notes, accessed 28 August 2011.
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