Claudio Santoro

A Brazilian composer, conductor and violinist, Santoro was born on November 23 1919. He studied the violin and theory at the Conservatorio de Musica do Distrito Federal in Rio de Janeiro. In 1938 after a few attempts at composing, he was taught by Koellreutter and was inducted into the 12-note technique. From 1941 to 1947 he played the violin in the Brazil SQ and even though he was awarded a US Guggenheim Fellowship, he was forced to decline because he could not obtain a visa. Santoro instead went to Paris where he studied with Boulanger and was a conducting student at the Conservatoire.

In 1951 he returned to Brazil and was the music director of “Radio Club do Brasil” in Rio and Teresopolis. Santorio became very involved in the music academia, in 1953 he was a professor of composition at the Santos School of Music. He also taught composition at the Pro Arte seminars in Rio and Teresopolis. In 1962 he was designated professor and coordinator of music at the University of Brasilla. The ensuing millitary occupation of the university led to Santoro’s acceptance of a fellowship fom the West German government and a move to Berlin in 1966. Santoro assisted the German government in the organization of the information center in Germany for Latin American music. During this time he established his reputation in Europe.

In 1978 he returned to the University of Brasillia and became very active, founding and directing of the symphony orchestra of the ‘Teatro Nacional.’ Santoro became a member of the Brazillian Academy of Arts and received numerous awards.

Santoro’s composing style evolved over the years, from his early music that was patterned after Koellreutter’s 12-note technique to a more flexible serial style. In 1949 he began studying Brazilian folk and pop music and developed a patriotic style to his music, attributed to his socialist outlook at this time. In 1952 Santoro’s composition Canto de amor e paz received the international Peace Prize of the World Peace Council in Vienna. Santoro’s numerous works included chamber, vocal and piano pieces. His masterly works rank him with the prominent Brazillian composers of the 20th century.

Source
Retrieved from Grove Music online October 18, 2009