Pinto, Francisco Antonio Norberto dos Santos

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Pinto, Francisco Antonio Norberto dos Santos

Pinto, Francisco Antonio Norberto dos Santos, Portuguese composer; b. Lisbon, June 6,1815; d. there, Jan. 30, 1860. He studied solfège at the royal chapel of Bemposta and horn with Justino José Garcia, the royal cavalry bandmaster. At 15, he became a player in the royal cavalry band, at 17 a cornetist in the royal police guard band, and at 18 first horn in the orch. of the Teatro Sān Carlos in Lisbon. He received instruction in composition and orchestration from Manuel Joaquim Botelho (1833–38). In 1854 he was made prof. of brass instruments at the National Cons. and in 1857 director of the orch. at the Teatro Sãn Carlos. He composed 19 ballets, incidental music to 33 plays, a Symphonia, overtures, and many sacred pieces.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire