Ronaldo Miranda

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Genres

classical music, contemporary classical

Instruments

piano

Biography

Ronaldo Coutinho de Miranda is a prominent Brazilian composer born in Rio de Janeiro in 1948. He studied composition at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and initially worked as a music critic for the Jornal do Brasil before launching his career as a composer in 1977, when he won first prize at the II Contemporary Brazilian Music Composition Biennial. Over the decades, his prolific output has encompassed orchestral pieces, chamber music, ballets, and operas, establishing him as a vital figure in contemporary classical music in Brazil.

Throughout his distinguished career, Miranda has held several important academic and cultural positions, including serving as a professor of composition at both UFRJ and the University of São Paulo (USP), as well as director of the Sala Cecília Meireles. His work has gained international recognition, leading to commissions from prestigious institutions and performances across Europe and the Americas. Notably, he was named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture in 1984 and has received numerous accolades such as the Golfinho d'Ouro trophy and the APCA award.

His major works include operas such as Dom Casmurro, based on the novel by Machado de Assis, and A Tempestade, inspired by William Shakespeare, as well as orchestral milestones like Sinfonia 2000 and the ballet Macunaíma. Collaborating with renowned ensembles like the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra (OSESP) and the Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra under conductors such as Fabio Mechetti, Miranda continues to shape the landscape of Brazilian concert music. His compositions often dialogue with Brazilian literary and cultural themes, drawing inspiration from figures like Mário de Andrade and Paulo Bonfim.