Arrigo Barnabé
- Origin
- Londrina, PR
- Years active
- 1974
- Genres
- vanguarda paulista, experimental, art pop, contemporary classical, MPB
- Instruments
- piano, vocals
Biography
Arrigo Barnabé is a pivotal figure in modern Brazilian music, born in Londrina, Paraná, in 1951. He rose to prominence in the late 1970s as a leading light of the "Vanguarda Paulista" movement, alongside collaborators like Itamar Assumpção and Tetê Espíndola. His work is characterized by a sophisticated fusion of 20th-century classical composition techniques, such as dodecaphonism and atonalism, with the raw energy of urban pop and experimental rock.\n\nBarnabé's debut album, Clara Crocodilo (1980), was hailed as a revolutionary moment in Brazilian culture, often cited as the most significant innovation since the Tropicália movement. This record, along with its successor Tubarões Voadores, showcased his unique "Sabor de Veneno" band and introduced a narrative style influenced by comic books and film noir. His vocal arrangements frequently featured singers such as Eliete Negreiros and Vânia Bastos, creating a theatrical soundscape that defied traditional song structures.\n\nThroughout his diverse career, Barnabé has also established himself as a versatile actor and a composer for cinema. He portrayed Orson Welles in the film "Nem tudo é verdade" and has written numerous soundtracks for Brazilian productions. Since 2004, he has also reached audiences through his radio show, Supertônica. His enduring influence is reflected in the tributes paid to him by fellow icons like Caetano Veloso, and his ongoing experimental projects that continue to push the boundaries of Brazilian art.