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Manuel de Falla was a seminal Spanish composer of the early 20th century, renowned for integrating authentic Spanish folk music, particularly Andalusian flamenco elements, into sophisticated classical forms.Born in Cádiz, Spain, de Falla studied music locally and later in Madrid.He lived in Paris (1907-1914), absorbing influences from Debussy and Ravel.Returning to Spain, he composed his most famous works: the ballets 'El amor brujo' (Love, the Magician) and 'El sombrero de tres picos' (The Three-Cornered Hat), and the piano concerto 'Noches en los jardines de España' (Nights in the Gardens of Spain).Deeply affected by the Spanish Civil War, he emigrated to Argentina in 1939, where he remained until his death.His final, ambitious work, the scenic cantata 'Atlàntida', was left incomplete.

• De Falla was deeply religious and ascetic, living a remarkably simple life despite his fame, often giving away money.
• The Spanish Civil War profoundly impacted him; he denounced fascist violence and felt compelled to leave Spain after General Franco's victory, despite receiving offers of support from the regime.
• His final years in Argentina were marked by severe illness (polyneuritis), poverty, and creative struggle as he worked obsessively on 'Atlàntida'.
• He died of a heart attack in Alta Gracia, Argentina, just nine days after his 70th birthday. The heart attack was reportedly triggered by a choking fit.
• His remains were controversially repatriated to Spain in 1947 and interred in Cádiz Cathedral, a move some saw as a political appropriation by the Franco regime that de Falla would likely have opposed.