Ferrão, Raul

Raul Ferrão, born in Lisbon, had a serious career in the military, but his hobby was composing music. At age seventeen, in 1907, he graduated from the military college where he had been enrolled since 1901. Trained as a chemical engineer, he taught at the Portuguese army’s Escola de Guerra from 1917 to 1918. He served in Africa during World War I, returning with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He then taught at the military academy. However, he was continually composing and producing hundreds of pieces for theaters, revues, and a few popular films, such as “A canção de Lisboa” (1933) and Maria Papoila” (1937). He also wrote for several operettas: “A invasão,” “Ribatejo,” “Nazaré,” and “Colete encarnado.” In 1932, he was named Commander of the Ordem do Merito Industrial, and in 1935, Commander of the Ordem Militar de Avis. As composer, he was the joint recipient with José Galhardo (lyrics) and Mirita Casimiro (singer) of the Premio Filipe Duarte for 1945/46. The following year, for music and words, he was the joint recipient, with singer Fernanda Baptista, of the Premio Negro for the song “Canções unidas” in the revue “Trapeiras de Lisboa.” There are streets named for him in many towns in Portugal.