No Brasil, sob orientação de Maria da Penha, foi vencedora de importantes concursos nacionais e internacionais de piano, dentre os quais destacam-se os Concursos Arnaldo Estrella/1988 em Juiz de Fora, o Dell’Arte/1992, que conferiu-lhe uma viagem para a Itália, e o Sulamericano Artlivre/1995 em São Paulo – este último decisivo para o início de sua carreira pianística.

Em 1996 Patrícia Bretas concluiu o Mestrado em Piano pela Escola de Música da UFRJ com “A cum laude”, sob orientação de Myrian Dauelsberg e Gertrud Mersiovsky. Sua tese foi a primeira, dentro da referida instituição, a ser traduzida para outro idioma, fazendo, hoje, parte da Biblioteca do “Max Reger Institut” em Bohn-Alemanha.

Professora de Piano na Escola de Música da UFRJ desde 1997, foi Diretora-Adjunta dos Cursos de Extensão de 1999 a 2003.

Paralelamente às suas intensas atividades acadêmicas, sua presença como concertista nas mais importantes salas de concerto tem sido cada vez mais constante. Com orquestra, tocou como solista da OSPA (Porto Alegre, sob a regência de Túlio Belardi), da OSUSP (São Paulo, sob a regência de Mônica Meira Vasquez), da AEXPEM (Rio de Janeiro, sob a regência de Roberto Duarte), da OSN-UFF (Rio de Janeiro, sob a regência de Lígia Amadio) da OSB (Rio de Janeiro, sob a regência de Roberto Duarte) , da Cia Bachiana Brasileira (Rio de Janeiro, sob a regência de Ricardo Rocha por duas vezes), da Orquestra de Cordas Pró-Música de Juiz de Fora (Juiz de Fora, sob a regência de Nilo Hack), da Strakorkester Lunnevad (em quatro cidades na Suécia, sob a regência de Mats Strand), da Jihočeská Komorní Filharmonie (Česky Budjejovice – Rep. Tcheca, sob a regência de Stanislav Vavřinek), da Filharmonie Hradec Králové (Hradec – Rep. Tcheca, sob a regência de Leoš Svárovský), do ensemble I virtuosi di Praga (sob regência de Oldrich Vlček) e da Norrköping Symphony Orkester (em seis cidades, sob a regência de Alan Buribayev).

Como camerista, tem um sério trabalho de duo pianístico com Josiane Kevorkian, desde 1995, além de ter tocado durante oito anos com o violinista Jaroslav Sonsky (Rep. Tcheca).

Seu CD “Bretas-Kevorkian” - que inclui obras inéditas brasileiras para piano a 4 mãos e para 2 pianos, além da versão original para 4 mãos de A Sagração da Primavera, de Stravinsky, – foi lançado no Rio de Janeiro em Setembro de 2002, e recebeu as melhores críticas dos jornalistas Luís Paulo Horta e Carlos Dantas, além de Zito Baptista Filho e Ronaldo Miranda.

Seu duo com Jaroslav Sonsky realizou mais de 100 concertos no Brasil e na Europa por oito anos, divulgando a música brasileira em importantes teatros na Suécia, República Tcheca, Luxemburgo, Dinamarca e Hungria. Gravaram ao vivo para a Sweedish Radio, Czech Radio e a Magyar Rádió Bartók.

Em 2003 gravaram um CD em Praga, com o patrocínio do OUROCAP. Com repertório exclusivamente tcheco-brasileiro (Otomar Kvèch, Ronaldo Miranda e Villa-Lobos), foi lançado em 2004 pelo selo Radioservis no Rio de Janeiro, na Suécia (Junsele International Festival) e na República Tcheca, e recebeu boa crítica, inclusive do periódico The Strad.

Em pesquisa do O Globo, Patrícia foi considerada a pianista que mais tocou no Rio de Janeiro em 2003.

Em 2006 abriu o Festival Internacional Martinu, em Polička, cidade-natal do maior compositor tcheco do século XX, e foi solista de duas importantes orquestras da República Tcheca, sob as regências de Stanislav Vavřinek) e de Leoš Svárovský.

Em 2007 fez a estréia na Suécia do Concertino para Piano e Orquestra de Ronaldo Miranda, que conquistou aquele país em quatro cidades. Além dos concertos, fez recitais na Dinamarca.

Sua tournée de 2008 incluiu um recital solo em Luxembourg, exclusivamente com música brasileira para piano, além de recitais na República Tcheca com seu duo, concertos como solista do “I virtuosi di Praga”, sob regência de Oldřich Vlček e recitais na Suécia.

Em 2009 foi à Europa três vezes. Em abril, para tocar no prestigioso Festival Internacional de Budapest. Em outubro, para tocar na Alemanha e na República Tcheca com seu duo pianístico. E em novembro, para ser solista da Orquestra Sinfônica de Norrköping em seis importantes teatros de seis cidades, destacando-se o National Slovak Theater de Bratislava e o Rudolfinum de Praga.

Em 2010 gravou seu 3º CD, patrocinado pelo OUROCAP, e com repertório solo, apresentando obras de Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, Debussy, Ravel, Murillo Santos, Ronaldo Miranda e destacando a Sonata para Piano do grande compositor tcheco Oldrich Korte, em primeira gravação na América do Sul.

Born in Rio de Janeiro. After graduating from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro’s Music School (UFRJ/EM), Patrícia Bretas moved to Paris where she studied with Eliane Richepin. She successfully participated in the International Festivals of Annecy in 1985 and 1986 obtaining many praises from the critics. She also took part in summer courses at Épinal and Salzburg where her performances stood out at all the concerts presented during that time. 
 
In Brazil, as a pupil of Maria da Penha, Patrícia Bretas won several important piano contests, including a trip to Italy. In 1995, she was unanimously awarded the 1st Prize at the Artlivre International Piano Competition in São Paulo. Since then, she has received several invitations to record for radio, TV and CD, and participates in many important concert series throughout Brazil. 
 
In 1996, Patrícia Bretas finished her Master thesis in Piano at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro under the auspices of Myrian Dauelsberg and Gertrud Mersiovsky.  In recognition of Patricia’s work, her thesis was translated to German and nowadays is part of Max Reger Institut in Bohn, Germany. 

Patricia has been a Professor since 1997 and acted as Deputy-Director of Extensions from 1999-2003 at the Federal University in Rio de Janeiro. 
 
Patricia has acumulated a vast musical experience in her curricula, both as soloist and chamber performer, with approximately 90 concerts played in Europe. She has also been invited as a soloist with different orchestras in Brazil – Symphonic Orchestra of Porto Alegre (OSPA), Symphonic Orchestra of the University of São Paulo, AEXPEM and OSN-UFF of Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian Symphony Orchestra (OSB), Brazilian Bachiana Company, The String Orchestra of Juiz de Fora, Petrobrás Symphonic Orchestra. In Europe - Strakorkester Lunnevad – Linköping-Sweden (conductor Mats Strand), Jihočeská Komorní Filharmonie - České Budějovice (conductor Stanislav Vavřinek), Filharmonie Hradec Králové – Hradec (conductor Leoš Svárovský), I virtuosi di Praga – Pardubice, (conductor Oldřich Vlček), Norrköping Symphony Orchestra - six cities (conductor Alan Buribayev). 
 
As a chamber musician, Patricia has a pianistic duo with Josiane Kevorkian since 1995, along with her performances with some other great musicians.

Since her debut, Patrícia Bretas has maintained her ideal of promoting Brazilian music as well as works from the international repertoire, which rarely get performed in Brazil. 
 
Her piano duo's CD “Bretas-Kevorkian” includes unpublished Brazilian pieces for four handed piano and for two pianos, besides the original version for the four handed pianio version of Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring”.  The CD was launched in September 2002 and has received the best reviews from journalists like Luis Paulo Horta, Carlos Dantas, Zito Baptista and composer Ronaldo Miranda.

She has played with Jaroslav Sonsky in many cities throught Brazil and touring in Europe for eight years, divulging the Brazilian and Czech concert music in important theaters in Sweden, Czech Republic, Luxemburg, Denmark and Hungary, recording live for the Sweedish Radio, Czech Radio and Magyar Radio Bartok.

In 2003 they recorded a CD in Prague sponsored by OUROCAP.  The repertoire was exclusively Czech-Brazilian (Otomar Kvech, Ronaldo Miranda and Villa Lobos) and it was launched in 2004 under the label of Radioservis in Rio de Janeiro, in Sweden (Junsele International Festival) and in the Czech Republic.  The CD received a great critic review, including The Strad.

In 2006 Patricia opened the Martinu International Festival in Policka, city where the greatest Czech composer of the 20th century was born.  She was soloist of two important orchestras in the Czech Republic, under the regency of Stanislav Vavrinek and Leos Svarovsky.

In 2007 Patricia made the first public appearance in Sweden of a piece written by Ronaldo Miranda, Concertino para Piano e Orquestra, with concerts in four different cities.  Besides the concerts, she did recitals in Denmark.

In 2008 her tour included a solo recital in Luxemburg, exclusively with Brazilian music for piano, besides recitals in the Czech Republic.  Then she played as soloist with “I Virtuosi di Praga”, under the regency of Olkrich Vlcek and also performed recitals in Sweden.

In 2009 she traveled to Europe three different times.  In April she played at the prestigious Budapest International Festival.  In October she played in Germany and in the Czech Republic with her pianistic duo.  In November she was the soloist of the Symphonic Orchestra of Norrkoping in important theaters of six different cities, with eminence of National Slovak Theater of Bratislava and Rudolfinum of Prague.

In 2010 her third CD was recorded with the sponsorship of OUROCAP, presenting a solo piano repertoire with pieces by Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, Debussy, Ravel, Murillo Santos, Ronaldo Miranda and specially presenting the Piano Sonata by the great Czech composer Oldrich Korte, recorded for the 1st time in South America.

Reviews

“Patrícia Bretas is brilliant and full of life and rhythm as she plays Prokofieff.” (Annecy - France, R.Gd., 08/20/1986) 
 
“Patrícia Bretas is a rich nature of extraordinary gifts… Sensible and intelligent Musician.”(Paris, Eliane Richepin, 25/08/1986) 
 
“Patrícia Bretas possesses great vigor, brilliant and solid technique, which provides her with high level performances.”(São Paulo, YaraBernette, 1995) 
 
“An Artist of great talent, temper and imagination, Patrícia has strong personality and charism.”(Rio de Janeiro, AntônioGuedes Barbosa, 1990) 
 
“Patrícia Bretas…as she played “St François marchand sur les flots”, from Liszt, carriedoff the audience, not only by the effects of her left hand, but also by her firm attacks in long distances.”(Rio de Janeiro, CarlosDantas, from “Tribuna da Imprensa”, 25/04/2001) 
 
“The Chopin played by Patrícia Bretas is clearly descendent from Arthur Rubinstein’s line. (...)It is not to be astonished that she stands on the front line of our pianists.” (Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Dantas, 08/09/2004) 
 
“Her playing was an stupendous master class.” (Katrineholms - Sweden, Holger Wigetz, “Katrineholms Kuriren”, 08/02/2005) 
 
“With a solid technique, Patrícia Bretas’s performance was very much convincing, paying attention to the form of the pieces and to the clarity.” (Gothenburg – Sweden, Lars Linge, “Lerums Tidning”, 10/02/2005) 
 
“At the final tempo (Beethoven, Appassionata op. 57) the pianist leaded the piece to an incandescence degree, still more on the Presto marcial (…) It was clear, undeniable her affiliation to Arthur Rubinstein.” (Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Dantas, Tribuna da Imprensa, 15/03/2006) 
 
“Villa-Lobos (2ndViolin Sonata) was performed tremendously skillfully. At the end soloists and ensemble joined in Mendelssohn’s Concerto for violin, piano and string orchestra. A glorious, musical, light, happy, intensive piece of music and this performance carried a stamp of the soloists’ brilliant playing and the ensemble's meritorious accompanying. (Åtvidaberg, Sweden, Olov Backman, Östgöta Correspondenten, 14/04/2008)

"The power of Martinů´s music was succesfully and originally interpreted not only by the conductor and orchestra, but foremost by the charismatic pianist Patrícia Bretas, who gives publicity to Czech music in Brazil. She performed the Concertino excellently with a great sense of Martinů´s difficult phrasing and with a deep feeling. But it was specially Bretas´s last concert in Rudolfinum which became unforgettable, thanks to her lyrical and meditative presentation of the second movement." (Prague, Martina Fialkova, 09/12/2009 on website http://www.muzikus.cz, http://www.muzikus.cz/klasicka-hudba-jazz-clanky/PrekvapenizeSvedska~09~prosinec~2009/ )

“The music tour culminated with two concerts (...) in a sold out auditorium of the Prague Rudolfinum on Nov. 26th. and 27th. 2009. The orchestra, the conductor and the soloist presented in Prague concerts of unusual quality and were rewarded by great ovations (...). The soloist (...) was the outstanding Brazilian pianist Patricia Bretas, whose artistic achievement has been known to the Czech audiences from her many previous concerts here (...).” (Prague, Martina Fialková, Czech Dialogue Magazine, 11/12/2009)