Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) was a Brazilian composer, conductor and cellist, one of the most distinctive musical voices of the twentieth century. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he drew deeply on Brazilian musical life while absorbing European concert traditions.

His works include the Bachianas brasileiras, the Chôros, symphonies, concertos, chamber music, guitar pieces and songs. His catalogue is large and often boldly individual.

Villa-Lobos’s music is colourful, rhythmic and expansive, combining folk, popular, indigenous and urban elements with modernist freedom. It can be rough-edged, lyrical, ceremonial and exuberant.

He became Brazil’s most internationally celebrated composer. Villa-Lobos made the concert hall sound as if someone had opened the windows onto a whole continent.