Eduardo Lages

The awarded composer Eduardo Lages has had his songs recorded by Roberto Carlos, Nelson Gonçalves, Emílio Santiago, Claudette Soares, Agostinho dos Santos, Agnaldo Timóteo, João Paulo e Daniel, and Rosemary, among others. Eduardo Lages debuted as a professional artist as the arranger, conductor, and composer of the Movimento Artístico Universitário (MAU, University Artistic Movement), that also had Ivan Lins and Gonzaguinha as its members. As an arranger, conductor, musician, and vocalist, he joined the Quarteto Forma. In 1969, he won first place at the Festival Fluminense da Canção Popular with "Canto da Praia Grande" (written with Paulinho Machado), interpreted by Momento 4. In 1971, he won first place at the Festival Fluminense da Canção Popular and fourth place at the IV Festival Internacional da Canção Popular with "Razão de Paz Pra Não Cantar" (with Alézio Barros), interpreted by Cláudia; the song also got the Best Song, Best Lyrics, Best Arrangement, and Best Interpreter prizes at the Peru Song Festival (Peru). With "Retirada" (with Alézio Barros), interpreted by Sônia Lemos, he got second place at the Festival Fluminense da Canção Popular, in 1970. "A Nave" (with Márcio Proença), interpreted by Cláudia, earned first place at the Festival Fluminense da Canção Popular (1972). With "Água Clara" (with Paulinho Machado), interpreted by Eduardo Conde, he got first place at the Festival de Belo Horizonte. With "Canção de Amor e Paz" (with Alézio Barros), he got first place at the Festival da Canção do México, interpreted by Cláudia; the song also won the prizes for the Best Song, Best Lyrics, Best Arrangement, and Best Interpreter.

As a musical director, conductor, musician, and/or arranger, he worked for Benito di Paula, Marcos Valle, Zezé di Camargo e Luciano, Chitãozinho e Xororó, Agnaldo Timóteo, Roberta Miranda, and Nelson Gonçalves, and in the childrens' musicals Sonho de Alice and A Bela Adormecida. At Chico's Bar, he played with Luizinho Eça, Nana Caymmi, and many other musicians and singers. Having worked for 17 years at TV Globo, he wrote many of the vignettes, themes, and incidental music for programs aired nationwide. After 1979, he started to work as Roberto Carlos' arranger, conductor, and musical director, having been, in 1998, the arranger and conductor of a concert done by Luciano Pavarotti and Roberto Carlos, held in Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul). In the same year, he was the arranger and musical director during the Brazilian visit by the Pope John Paul II to Rio de Janeiro, with the participation of the Brazilian Symphonic Orchestra. In 2000, he was the music coordinator of the concert performed by Luciano Pavarotti, Gal Costa, and Maria Bethânia in Salvador (Bahia).