The Villa-Lobos Event at LSO St Luke's
On 16 May 2026, LSO St Luke's hosted The Villa-Lobos Event — a multimedia concert celebrating the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, whose work was deeply inspired by childhood and the natural world. Conceived, directed and performed by Brazilian pianist Marcelo Bratke, the programme explored how Villa-Lobos created a unique musical language reflecting Brazil's cultural diversity.
Alongside solo piano works, the concert featured selections from Guia Prático, Villa-Lobos's landmark educational cycle for youth choir and piano — performed in Portuguese for the first time outside Brazil by the Finchley Children's Music Group (FCMG), conducted by Grace Rossiter. The evening concluded with Four Songs of the Amazon Forest for soprano, piano and youth choir, featuring soprano Camila Provenzalle, with immersive video scenography by artist Mariannita Luzzati.
The concert formed part of the UK/Brazil Season of Culture 2025–26, led by the British Council and Brazil's IGR.
A reflection from the choir
The London BGTC Society community was proud to see one of our own take part: Yan Bregman performed as a soloist with the Finchley Children's Music Group.
“Singing Villa-Lobos in Portuguese on the LSO St Luke's stage was unforgettable — standing with the whole choir, you could feel the music carry the colour and warmth of another world.”
Yan BregmanSoloist, Finchley Children's Music Group (FCMG)
Programme
Heitor Villa-Lobos
A Prole do Bebê No 1 — for solo piano
Guia Prático — selections for youth choir and piano
O Trenzinho do Caipira (from Bachianas Brasileiras No 2) — for youth choir and piano
Four Songs of the Amazon Forest — for soprano, youth choir and piano
Marcelo Bratke piano · Camila Provenzalle soprano · Finchley Children's Music Group · Grace Rossiter chorus director · Mariannita Luzzati video scenography
The Villa-Lobos Event was organised by the London Symphony Orchestra and the British Council at LSO St Luke's. The London BGTC Society was not the organiser; we share this recap to celebrate the participation of our community member, FCMG soloist Yan Bregman. The quotation above is a personal reflection. All event links lead to the official organisers' websites.
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