Henrique Oswald was arguably the most European of all Brazilian composers, as he spent a large part of his life in Italy and absorbed influences from France and Germany. Oswald's music always maintains a lyrical character with distinctive elegance and expression, which is also evident in the Sinfonietta. The expressive "Elegia," originally composed for cello and piano, is dedicated to the memory of a friend. With its contrasts between darkness and light, the symphony is considered Oswald's greatest orchestral success and one of the most important works in Brazilian orchestral literature. The Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 2008 and has developed into one of Brazil's most successful cultural institutions. Under the leadership of its artistic director and principal conductor Fabio Mechetti, the orchestra has received numerous awards and prizes, including the Grande Premio Concerto 2015, and has made a significant contribution to the series "The Music of Brazil," which includes symphonies by Lorenzo Fernandez on an album praised by Diapason for its "intense sonic energy." Fabio Mechetti has been artistic director and principal conductor of the Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra since its founding. Under his leadership, the orchestra has won countless awards, recorded nine albums, and toured throughout South America. In 2014, he was appointed principal conductor of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. In the US, Mechetti led the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra for 14 years, of which he is now conductor emeritus.