Brazilian pianist and composer Vitor Araújo shares how an ambitious work combining a symphony orchestra and Afro-Brazilian rituals almost cost him his finger.

This article focuses on Brazilian pianist and composer Vitor Araújo’s ambitious project Levaguiã Terê, which integrates Afro-Brazilian Candomblé rhythms and spirituality with symphony orchestra composition. Originally released in 2016, the work features complex mirrored suites called “CANTOS” (chants) and “TOQUES” (touches) that interweave melodies and rhythms from northeastern Brazil. In 2024, Araújo performed Levaguiã Terê live with the Netherlands’ Metropole Orkest at the Holland Festival despite suffering a severe finger infection that nearly forced him to cancel; the concert was recorded and released as TORÓ, capturing the raw, first-take energy Araújo sought. The article highlights Araújo’s dedication to preserving the live, communal spirit of Brazilian rhythms within a classical framework.