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Heitor Villa-Lobos was a prolific and influential Brazilian composer, conductor, cellist, and guitarist, widely regarded as the most significant figure in 20th-century Brazilian classical music. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Villa-Lobos was largely self-taught. His music synthesized elements of European classical tradition with the rich indigenous, folk, and popular musical heritage of Brazil. He composed over 2000 works across almost all genres, including orchestral, chamber, vocal, and solo instrumental music. His series of 'Bachianas Brasileiras' and 'Chôros' are among his most famous creations. He played a crucial role in establishing music education in Brazil.

• Despite his father's wish for him to become a doctor, Villa-Lobos was captivated by music from childhood, often sneaking out to play cello in local choro groups.
• His extensive travels throughout Brazil collecting folk melodies profoundly shaped his unique compositional style, blending native rhythms and instruments with classical forms.
• Villa-Lobos married twice. His second wife, Arminda Neves d'Almeida (Mindinha), became his lifelong companion, muse, and later, the guardian of his legacy.
• He served as the director of the Superintendência de Educação Musical e Artística (SEMA) in Rio de Janeiro, implementing large-scale choral singing programs in schools across Brazil.
• Known for his immense energy and charisma, he toured extensively as a conductor, promoting his own works and Brazilian music internationally, particularly in the US and Europe.
• Villa-Lobos died of bladder cancer in Rio de Janeiro in 1959. His funeral was a major national event, reflecting his status as a Brazilian cultural icon.