Júlio Medaglia

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Genres

classical music, MPB, soundtrack

Instruments

conducting, violin

Biography

Júlio Medaglia was born in São Paulo on April 16, 1938, and established himself as one of the most important conductors and arrangers in the history of Brazilian music. His initial contact with music occurred in childhood, through the study of the violin, and he later entered the Pro-Arte Free School of Music under the mentorship of Hans-Joachim Koellreutter. In the 1960s, he joined avant-garde movements alongside concrete poets such as the Campos brothers and actively participated in the country's cultural renewal before leaving for studies in Europe, where he honed his conducting skills with renowned figures like Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen.

Back in Brazil, Medaglia played a fundamental role in the musical scene by arranging Caetano Veloso's song "Tropicália," the starting point of the Tropicália movement in late 1967. Throughout his career, he directed major symphonic ensembles, such as the São Paulo Municipal Theatre Symphony Orchestra and the Rio de Janeiro Municipal Theatre Orchestra, and founded the Amazonas Philharmonic in 1997. In addition to his intense stage work, he stood out in television and radio, composing memorable soundtracks for TV Globo soap operas and miniseries and hosting programs dedicated to the dissemination of classical music.

His artistic contribution also extends to musical literature, marginal cinema — winning an award at the Gramado Festival for his work on The Mummy's Secret — and essay writing, as a member of the São Paulo Academy of Letters. Recognized for his versatility and for bridging classical rigor with popular and television culture, Medaglia continues to work in the promotion and teaching of music through orchestral projects and radio and television programs.

Discography

• André da Silva Gomes - Orquestra Cordas de São Paulo, Côro Vozes de São Paulo, Julio Medaglia – São Paulo Séc. XVIII (Recolhimento da Luz) / São Paulo Séc. XIX (Largo da Sé) / São Paulo Séc. XX (1970)
• Missa a 8 Vozes e Instrumentos (1970)
• Altamiro Carrilho, Abel Ferreira, Formiga e Paulo Moura com a Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira , Regente Júlio Medaglia – Interpretam Vivaldi, Weber, Purcell e Villa-Lobos (1977)