Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Heitor Villa-Lobos was a composer, choreographer and conductor, born on March 5, 1887 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Heitor Villa-Lobos died on November 17, 1959 at the age of 72. Listed accolades include honorary doctor of the University of Miami (1954), Commander of the Legion of Honour and Livro dos Heróis e Heroínas da Pátria. Credited works include String Quartet No. 14, Chôros No. 1 and String Quartet No. 3.
My Take
Heitor Villa-Lobos earns my deepest admiration for refusing to imitate Europe. Born in Rio, he poured Brazil's own rhythms and melodies into classical form, and his Bachianas Brasileiras, marrying Bach's counterpoint to Brazilian song, still raises the hairs on my arm. He was a cellist, guitarist, conductor, educator, and choreographer all at once, a bottomless well of talent honored even with the Legion of Honour. What moves me most is his pride: he made his nation's blood audible inside concert music. Calling him the defining figure of twentieth-century Brazilian art music is no exaggeration whatsoever.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Heitor Villa-Lobos
- Name (Japanese)
- エイトル・ヴィラ＝ロボス
- Reading
- えいとる・ゔぃら＝ろぼす
- Born
- March 5, 1887 – November 17, 1959
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Pisces / Boar
- Origin
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Occupation
- composer / choreographer / conductor / musicologist / secondary school teacher
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 1954 honorary doctor of the University of Miami
- Commander of the Legion of Honour
- Livro dos Heróis e Heroínas da Pátria
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | String Quartet No. 14 | — | |
| Notable work | Chôros No. 1 | — | |
| Notable work | String Quartet No. 3 | — | |
| Notable work | Bachianas Brasileiras | — |
4. Links
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-23
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Heitor Villa-Lobos born?
Born March 5, 1887.
When did Heitor Villa-Lobos die?
Died November 17, 1959, aged 72.
Where was Heitor Villa-Lobos from?
Heitor Villa-Lobos was from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
What did Heitor Villa-Lobos do?
Heitor Villa-Lobos worked as composer, choreographer, conductor, musicologist, secondary school teacher.
What was Heitor Villa-Lobos known for?
Notable works include String Quartet No. 14, Chôros No. 1, String Quartet No. 3.
Composer — see all → · Choreographer — see all → · More people from Brazil →