Ester de Abreu born 25 October 1921

Ester de Abreu (October 25, 1921, Lisbon, Portugal - February 24, 1997, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) was  a Portuguese singer. 

The beautiful Abreu Ester was born Ester de Abreu Pereira.  She was one of three siblings: Manuel, Juliet (later to become superstar of the Portuguese Journal of Theatre) and Hermenegilda, the future singer Gilda Valencia. 

She began her career in 1934 singing in radio programs dedicated to children, but this only lasted for two years. It wasn’t until 1940, that she began to sing professionally for the Lisbon National Radio.  In 1946 she won a contest on the same radio, and became part of the "cast" of artists who toured Portugal several times, later she came to visit other countries in Europe and toured the Portuguese colonies in Africa. 
 

In 1948 she was invited by her sister Juliet Valencia - who have long resided in Rio de Janeiro- to come to Brazil to do a season at the Copacabana Palace Hotel. She signed a contract with the club of the Copacabana Palace and debuted in the musical revue "Dream in Berlengas" Caribé of the Rock.  She also struck a deal with the National Radio for 12 months.  The Rio press called Ester  "the most beautiful Portuguese."  

The Portuguese star was surrounded by very good luck, she remained in the cast of the National until the mid-1960s, with great success.  She became the most famous Portuguese singer in Brazil.  Eventually she became a naturalized Brazilian. 
 

She travelled throughout the country in artistic excursions.  In 1950 she debuted in recording albums in Continental fado song "I do not know" (António Mestre) and fado "Orchard of life" (Rene Bittencourt / Antonio Mestre). 

 

 

 

 

However, his biggest success was the fado-song "Coimbra" (Raul Ferrao / José Gallardo), this recording hit sales records in 1952. In 1954 she released her first LP by RCA Victor.
 

It was during 1952 there was a private party hosted by President Getulio Vargas in Catete Palace in Rio. Ester and other colleagues of the National Radio were invited to make a short presentation.  That night, Vargas presented it to the mayor of the Federal District, the Dulcídio colonel of the Holy Spirit Cardoso, widowed and decided to marry again.  And thus was born a romance between both, which received strong media reports, but the new marriage did not take place.  In 1956 they had already separated.   

In addition to fado, Ester recorded baiões, samba-song and Brazilian music. She also participated in the films: "Take it easy" (1956), "Pirates of This World" (1957), "How to avoid separation" (1973) and "The Adventures of a Portuguese detective" (1976). 

By the end of the 60’s she moved away from artistic activities, it was the end of the "Golden Age of Radio".  Ester continued singing to audiences of clubs and Luso-Brazilian companies.  And she devoted much of his time to social work, participating in charity shows. She always lived in the company of her daughter Maria Manuela, lawyer, sculptor and painter, in a large apartment at Praia de Botafogo in Rio.  

In 1995, the Portuguese star became very ill. She died in Rio de Janeiro February 24, 1997 

 (Info edited from Thais Matarazzo @ www.mundolusiada.com.br)