Everything began in 1996, after a devastating fire in Heliópolis, one of the largest favelas in the Brazilian city of São Paulo. Silvio Baccarelli resolved to help the children in the poverty-stricken district. And he decided to help them with music. What began with 36 young music students is now a music institute, supported by the Volkswagen Foundation, from which the third professional symphony orchestra has already emerged. Gustav Mahler from the favelas – classical music could not be in starker contrast or more effective.
