De Amélia Brandão Nery a Tia Amélia

a incrível história da compositora e seu piano

Abstract

This review discusses the biography “Aunt Amélia: the piano and the incredible life of the composer”, published by Jeanne de Castro, about the composer from Pernambuco, Amélia Brandão Nery, who was successful in the 1950s and 1960s. The book aims to reverse Amélia’s erasure in the history of Brazilian music, a result of misogyny and prejudice. Divided into two parts, the biography explores the phases of Amélia’s life: her childhood and early career in Pernambuco, and her artistic rebirth in Rio de Janeiro as “Aunt Amélia”. The author uses sources from the press and personal accounts, but her novelistic approach and the lack of citation of sources may compromise the credibility of the work. The book also addresses Amélia’s relationship with the choro tradition, her personal life, such as her forced marriage and challenges as a mother, as well as her role as a female figure who, despite stereotypes, also represents the struggle for professional emancipation. Overall, the work is a significant contribution to the appreciation of Amélia's work, although it has limitations in terms of academic rigor.