NAZARETH, ERNESTO  

The Brazilian composer and pianist Ernesto Nazareth was, as a boy, strongly influenced by Chopin. He later found various ways of earning a living, including teaching and playing the piano in cinemas, and finally won popularity as a performer. He suffered a mental breakdown in his final years and was found drowned after absconding from the institution where he was being treated.

Tangos and Polkas/p>

Nazareth made his reputation as a composer of tangos and polkas, piano pieces that seemed to encapsulate the spirit of Brazil and its music.