The great composers of the 20th century South America

Bacalov or Schifrin? Gardel or Novaes? It is difficult for inquiring minds to tackle such abundant fields as classical music and opera, covering 10 centuries of history: there are thousands of composers. Making a selection of musicians, such as a “top 10” for example, is a difficult and subjective exercise. A musical selection is often the expression of personal preferences or artistic opinions, very interesting but also very different according to critics or musicologists, or simply influenced by the context: will an English composer not be instinctively privileged by an English critic?

For example: in France, Charles Gounod, a 19th century French composer, is more easily mentioned than the Norwegian Edvard Grieg, who is more recognized in the world.

Timeline of classical music composers, between 1890 and 2000+ (modern & contemporary era) in South America

Whoever wants to discover classical music or opera does not always have an experienced music lover, an expert or an educator at his or her side to support and guide him or her in these fields. So : Bacalov (Argentine composer, musician; nationalized Italian; Oscar winning film score composer) or Schifrin (Argentine composer) ? Anselmi (Venezuelan musician) or Nepomuceno (Brazilian composer and conductor) ? However, the knowledge available about musicians is enormous. It was processed to select the 10, 25, 50... most popular composers around the world, for those living or having lived en South America, between 1890 and 2000+ (modern & contemporary era). And this objectively, and for the first time (soClassiQ exclusivity).

Composers rendered as a timeline to bring a little perspective:

18791879 18901890 19011901 19121912 19231923 19341934 19451945 19561956 19671967 19781978 19891989 20002000

Timeline :

Composers Conductors Lyrical singers Performers Worldwide Europe North America South America Asia Oceania Africa 2020

This timeline is interactive to navigate through the ages , or eras : medieval music, renaissance, baroque music (Bach...), classical period (Mozart...), romantic music (Beethoven...), XXth (Stravinsky), or across continents (with ).

Top 10 classical musiccomposers in South America for the years 1890-2000+

Who are these greatest composers, the most famous over the 1890-2000+ era in South America? The works of these musician have shaped the history of classical music and lyric art. There are those you probably know, or at least by name and the others.

Here are these 10 classical music composers, renowned artists from around the world:

Curious to know their most emblematic works? Just a click away to discover them.

The selections of musicians (classical music composers) proposed by soClassiQ are based exclusively on algorithms. The same applies to their works, the performers, the lyrical singers, les orchestras, the conductors and the venues : opera houses, concert halls or festivals.

What about the others? 25, 50 or more?

Summarizing to 10 musician names such a wide and diverse field may seem extreme or too simplistic for those who know classical music and lyrical art well, for those who can easily name 50 or more classical music composers. Dudamel, Ginastera, Barrios, Villa-Lobos, Gomes, Kagel, Guarnieri...

At this time, soClassiQ has listed more than 18000 composers. So here is a selection of some composers for the modern & contemporary era, in South America, widely recognized around the world:

Note:

This selection may include highly reputed artists and musicians who have occasionally devoted themselves to classical music and not exclusively.
It may also include composers who have been or are concert performers, some more renowned for their careers than for the work they have left behind.

A
 Juan Manuel AbrasThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 45 (20th century)
                        
Conductor & Composer 
 Vicente Bianchi AlarcónThe great composers of the 20th century  
1920-2018 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Leni AlexanderThe great composers of the 20th century  
1924-2005 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Eduardo Alonso-CrespoThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 64 (20th century)
                        
Conductor & Composer 
 Jorge Pepi AlósThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 58 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Blas Emilio Atehortúa AmayaThe great composers of the 20th century  
1943-2020 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
  José Antonio Abreu AnselmiThe great composers of the 20th century  
1939-2018 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Jorge AntunesThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 78 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Ricardo AraujoThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 42 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 João Gomez de AraújoThe great composers of the 20th century  
1846-1943 (Romantic)
                        
Composer 
  Martha ArgerichThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 79 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Diana ArismendiThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 57 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Juan ArroyoThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 38 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Pedro Seiji AsatoThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 80 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Sérgio AssadThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 67 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 

B
  Luis BacalovThe great composers of the 20th century  
1933-2017 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Eduardo BanksThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 41 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Silvio BarbatoThe great composers of the 20th century  
1959-2009 (20th century)
                        
Conductor & Composer 
  Agustín BarriosThe great composers of the 20th century  
1885-1944 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Carmen BarrosThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 95 (20th century)
                        
Lyrical singer & Composer 
 Gustavo Becerra-SchmidtThe great composers of the 20th century  
1925-2010 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
  Herman BembergThe great composers of the 20th century  
1859-1931 (Romantic)
                        
Composer 
  Esteban BenzecryThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 50 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Arturo BeruttiThe great composers of the 20th century  
1858-1938 (Romantic)
                        
Composer 
 Daniel BinelliThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 74 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Próspero BisquerttThe great composers of the 20th century  
1881-1959 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Alceo BocchinoThe great composers of the 20th century  
1918-2013 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
  Felipe BoeroThe great composers of the 20th century  
1884-1958 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Luiz BonfáThe great composers of the 20th century  
1922-2001 (20th century)
                        
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer 
 Cristina BragaThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 54 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Antônio Francisco BragaThe great composers of the 20th century  
1868-1945 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
  Carlos López BuchardoThe great composers of the 20th century  
1881-1948 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 

C
 Roberto CaamañoThe great composers of the 20th century  
1923-1993 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Pompeyo CampsThe great composers of the 20th century  
1924-1997 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Jorge CardosoThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 71 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
  Teresa CarreñoThe great composers of the 20th century  
1853-1917 (Romantic)
                        
Conductor, Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer 
 Eleazar de CarvalhoThe great composers of the 20th century  
1912-1996 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
  Enrique Mario CasellaThe great composers of the 20th century  
1891-1948 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Fernando González CasellasThe great composers of the 20th century  
1925-1998 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Evencio CastellanosThe great composers of the 20th century  
1915-1984 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 José María CastroThe great composers of the 20th century  
1892-1964 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Juan José CastroThe great composers of the 20th century  
1895-1968 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Maximianno CobraThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 50 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Miguel Ángel Fúster CollThe great composers of the 20th century  
1933-2012 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 CorciolliThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 52 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Brasílio Itiberê da Cunha LuzThe great composers of the 20th century  
1896-1967 (20th century)
                        
Composer 

Mario DavidovskyThe great composers of the 20th century
1934-2019 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

Alirio DíazThe great composers of the 20th century
1923-2016 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

Juan de Dios FilibertoThe great composers of the 20th century
1885-1964 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer

Ernesto DrangoschThe great composers of the 20th century
1882-1925 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

Carlos DuarteThe great composers of the 20th century
1957-2003 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

Gustavo DudamelThe great composers of the 20th century
age 39 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer

Antonio EstévezThe great composers of the 20th century
1916-1988 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer

Juan Antonio Garcia EstradaThe great composers of the 20th century
1895-1960 (20th century)
Composer

Maria Helena Rosas FernandesThe great composers of the 20th century
age 87 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

Oscar Lorenzo FernándezThe great composers of the 20th century
1897-1948 (20th century)
Composer

Ingrid FliterThe great composers of the 20th century
age 46 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

G
  Constantino GaitoThe great composers of the 20th century  
1878-1945 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Gerardo GandiniThe great composers of the 20th century  
1936-2013 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Eduardo García-MansillaThe great composers of the 20th century  
1871-1930 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Pedro García VelásquezThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 36 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
  Carlos GardelThe great composers of the 20th century  
1890-1935 (20th century)
                        
Lyrical singer & Composer 
  Gilardo GilardiThe great composers of the 20th century  
1889-1963 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
  Alberto GinasteraThe great composers of the 20th century  
1916-1983 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
  Tomás GiribaldiThe great composers of the 20th century  
1847-1930 (Romantic)
                        
Composer 
 Maria Isabel Curubeto GodoyThe great composers of the 20th century  
1904-1959 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
  Osvaldo GolijovThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 59 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
  Antônio Carlos GomesThe great composers of the 20th century  
1836-1896 (Romantic)
                        
Performer & Composer 
  Chiquinha GonzagaThe great composers of the 20th century  
1847-1935 (Romantic)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Carlos GrätzerThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 64 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Remigio Acevedo GuajardoThe great composers of the 20th century  
1863-1911 (Romantic)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Camargo GuarnieriThe great composers of the 20th century  
1907-1993 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
  Carlos GuastavinoThe great composers of the 20th century  
1912-2000 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 César Guerra-PeixeThe great composers of the 20th century  
1914-1993 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Alberto GuerreroThe great composers of the 20th century  
1886-1959 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Gerardo GuevaraThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 89 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 

Reynaldo HahnThe great composers of the 20th century
1874-1947 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer

Jorge Peña HenThe great composers of the 20th century
1928-1973 (20th century)
Composer

Rodrigo HerrmannThe great composers of the 20th century
1916-1971 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer

Guillermo Uribe HolguínThe great composers of the 20th century
1880-1971 (20th century)
Composer

Adina IzarraThe great composers of the 20th century
age 61 (20th century)
Composer

Raúl JaurenaThe great composers of the 20th century
age 78 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

Mauricio KagelThe great composers of the 20th century
1931-2008 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer

Erich KleiberThe great composers of the 20th century
1890-1956 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer

Edino KriegerThe great composers of the 20th century
age 92 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer

Marta LambertiniThe great composers of the 20th century
1937-2019 (20th century)
Composer

Antonio LauroThe great composers of the 20th century
1917-1986 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

Mario LecarosThe great composers of the 20th century
age 70 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

Alfonso LengThe great composers of the 20th century
1894-1974 (20th century)
Composer

Arthur Moreira LimaThe great composers of the 20th century
age 80 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

Elias Álvares LoboThe great composers of the 20th century
1834-1901 (Romantic)
Composer

M
 Ernst MahleThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 91 (20th century)
                        
Conductor & Composer 
 Mesías MaiguashcaThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 81 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Claudio MaldonadoThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 40 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Virtú MaragnoThe great composers of the 20th century  
1928-2004 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Luis Otero Martínez-SiegenthalerThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 56 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer 
  Eduardo MarturetThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 66 (20th century)
                        
Conductor & Composer 
  Juan Bautista MassaThe great composers of the 20th century  
1885-1938 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Carlos MastropietroThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 62 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Martín MatalonThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 61 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Anacleto de MedeirosThe great composers of the 20th century  
1866-1907 (Romantic)
                        
Composer 
 Sergio MesaThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 77 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Francisco MignoneThe great composers of the 20th century  
1897-1986 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Ronaldo MirandaThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 72 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
  Gabriela MonteroThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 50 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Cholo MontironiThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 88 (20th century)
                        
Conductor & Composer 
 Roberto García MorilloThe great composers of the 20th century  
1911-2003 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Eli-Eri MouraThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 57 (20th century)
                        
Conductor & Composer 
 Ricardo MoyanoThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 59 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 

Ernesto NazarethThe great composers of the 20th century
1863-1934 (Romantic)
Performer & Composer

Alberto NepomucenoThe great composers of the 20th century
1864-1920 (Romantic)
Conductor, Performer & Composer

John NeschlingThe great composers of the 20th century
age 73 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer

Marlos NobreThe great composers of the 20th century
age 81 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer

Guiomar NovaesThe great composers of the 20th century
1895-1979 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

Juan Carlos NúñezThe great composers of the 20th century
age 73 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer

Sergio OrtegaThe great composers of the 20th century
1938-2003 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

Henrique OswaldThe great composers of the 20th century
1852-1931 (Romantic)
Composer

Fernando Martin OteroThe great composers of the 20th century
age 48 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

P
 Nathan PachecoThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 40 (20th century)
                        
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer 
 Athos PalmaThe great composers of the 20th century  
1891-1951 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Martín PalmeriThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 55 (20th century)
                        
Conductor & Composer 
 Fabián PaniselloThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 56 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
  Ettore PanizzaThe great composers of the 20th century  
1875-1967 (20th century)
                        
Conductor & Composer 
  Astor PiazzollaThe great composers of the 20th century  
1921-1992 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Pedro Morales PinoThe great composers of the 20th century  
1863-1926 (Romantic)
                        
Composer 
 Jorge Humberto PinzónThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 52 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Adrien PolitiThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 62 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Jaurés Lamarque PonsThe great composers of the 20th century  
1917-1982 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Osvaldo PuglieseThe great composers of the 20th century  
1905-1995 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 

Ariel RamírezThe great composers of the 20th century
1921-2010 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

Victor Guillermo Ramos RangelThe great composers of the 20th century
1911-1986 (20th century)
Composer

Dilermando ReisThe great composers of the 20th century
1916-1977 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

Rodrigo RieraThe great composers of the 20th century
1923-1999 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

José María Valle RiestraThe great composers of the 20th century
1858-1925 (Romantic)
Composer

Daniel Alomía RoblesThe great composers of the 20th century
1871-1942 (20th century)
Composer

Arturo RodasThe great composers of the 20th century
age 66 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

David Rosenmann-TaubThe great composers of the 20th century
age 93 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

S
 Luis H. SalgadoThe great composers of the 20th century  
1903-1977 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Bruno SanfilippoThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 54 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
  Gustavo SantaolallaThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 68 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
  Arthur Napoleão dos SantosThe great composers of the 20th century  
1843-1925 (Romantic)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Ángel SauceThe great composers of the 20th century  
1911-1995 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
  Lalo SchifrinThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 88 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Alfredo SchiumaThe great composers of the 20th century  
1885-1963 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 José SerebrierThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 81 (20th century)
                        
Conductor & Composer 
  Honorio SiccardiThe great composers of the 20th century  
1897-1963 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
  Oreste SindiciThe great composers of the 20th century  
1828-1905 (Romantic)
                        
Lyrical singer & Composer 
 Vicente Emilio SojoThe great composers of the 20th century  
1887-1974 (20th century)
                        
Composer 
 Juan María SolareThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 53 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 João de Souza LimaThe great composers of the 20th century  
1898-1982 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Carlos StellaThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 59 (20th century)
                        
Performer & Composer 
 Oscar StrasnoyThe great composers of the 20th century  
age 49 (20th century)
                        
Conductor, Performer & Composer 
 Augusto StresserThe great composers of the 20th century  
1871-1918 (Romantic)
                        
Composer 
 Susana Baron SupervielleThe great composers of the 20th century  
1910-2004 (20th century)
                        
Composer 

Victor TorresThe great composers of the 20th century
age 61 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer

Floro UgarteThe great composers of the 20th century
1884-1975 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

Antonio Maria ValenciaThe great composers of the 20th century
1902-1952 (20th century)
Performer & Composer

Juan Casanova VicuñaThe great composers of the 20th century
1894-1976 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer

Heitor Villa-LobosThe great composers of the 20th century
1887-1959 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer

Ezequiel ViñaoThe great composers of the 20th century
age 60 (20th century)
Composer

Joaquín ZamacoisThe great composers of the 20th century
1894-1976 (20th century)
Composer

Edson ZampronhaThe great composers of the 20th century
age 57 (20th century)
Composer

Udo ZimmermannThe great composers of the 20th century
age 76 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer

Some composers to be celebrated very soon

Next month, more than 30 important artists and musicians will be honoured. In September 2020 some of them may celebrate a special anniversary. For others, amateurs and enthusiasts will celebrate the bicentenary of their birth or the fiftieth anniversary of their death for example. Among them, some famous composers:

on 14, Luigi Cherubini (1760-1842), 260th anniversary (Birth),
on 20, Gilles Binchois (1400-1460), 560th anniversary (Death),
on 23, Alexander Arutiunian (1920-2012), 100th anniversary (Birth),
on 28, Florent Schmitt (1870-1958), 150th anniversary (Birth),
on 30, Johan Svendsen (1840-1911), 180th anniversary (Birth),
...

There are others to discover. And it is not too late to focus on the August 2020 celebrations (40+).

Always good opportunities to discover or deepen, (re)listen, explore the vastness and diversity of classical music...

The great composers of the 20th century South America

Timeline of classical music composers, between 1890 and 2000+ (modern & contemporary era) in South America

Top 10 classical musiccomposers in South America for the years 1890-2000+

What about the others? 25, 50 or more?

Some composers to be celebrated very soon

See also...

Timelines : Composers

Indexes

Other timelines

Commemorations 2020, 2021, ...