Mulheres pianistas e compositoras, em sal es e teatros do Rio de Janeiro (1870-1930)

This article presents some conclusions from a research made in Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro investigating the female musicians’ roles in Rio de Janeiro in the end of 19th century andthe beginning of 20th century in a Cultural History perspective. This period is characterized by significant transformations in the feminine roles in theatres and aristocratic salons among other spaces. The salons were used by the families to make social and political contacts while presenting their young daughters to society. There, women could perform as musicians, especially as singers and pianists. In theatre, they were mostly actresses and singers, rarely composers, instrumentalists and conductresses, situation that gradually changed. The research presented here identifies a significant number of female musicians, playing, composing and publishing. Conflicts and contradictions surrounded their acting. In salons, this was ambiguously compromised, but it was explicitly revealed in Rio de Janeiro’s theatres at that time.