Heitor Villa-Lobos was born in 1887 in Rio de Janeiro. He mastered the violoncello to professionalism and was engaged in concert appearances since he was twelve without ever receiving a formal academic training. From 1905 he started investigating the local Brazilian folk music, which later influenced his work to a great extent. He spent several years in Europe, mainly in Paris, and upon his return to Brazil in 1930 the government appointed him director of musical education in Rio de Janeiro. In 1942 he established a conservatory and in 1945 founded the Brazilian Academy of Music, whose president he was until his death in 1959. Villa-Lobos's vast creative output (over 1200 works) covers all musical genres. The two Sonata-Fantasies were composed in 1915 and were written following the tradition of the 19th century romantic violin style. Sonatina No. 3 for violin and piano was created five years later. All the three compositions belong to his early period.
Njagul Tumangelov was born in Sofia. He studied at the School for Talented Children and Adolescent Musicians (a specialized institution for musical education, established in Sofia after World War II). Later he graduated from the State Academy of Music in Sofia and in 1962 he became concertmaster of the Sofia Philharmonic. In 1969, after a successfully won competition, Njagul Tumangelov was appointed as first concertmaster of the Orchestra of the Austrian Radio and Television (ORF). Currently he lives in Austria.
Bojidar Noev graduated from the State Academy of Music in Sofia. His career as a concretizing pianist began at the age of 13, when he made his debut with the Sofia Philharmonic. He attended the courses of the Salzburg Mozarteum and a master class of the great French pianist Magda Tagliaferro. In 1969-1972 he specialized at Rome's Academia di Santa Cecilia with world-known pianists like professors Carlo Zecchi and Guido Agosti, with Rudolf Serkin, Nikita Magaloff, etc. He has appeared as soloist and chamber music performer throughout Europe, in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, and in Asia. He has been invited to perform at prestigious international festivals in Bulgaria, Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Russia, Portugal, and Mexico. Mr. Noev has been member of the jury at piano competitions in Austria and Italy. Since 1977 he has been Professor in piano at the State Conservatory in Innsbruck and since 1990 he has directed the Department of Keyboard Instruments.