Diego Frazão Torquato
Brazilian violinist, subject of a famous photograph (1997–2010)
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Diego Frazão Torquato, nicknamed "Diego do Violino"[a] (1997 – Duque de Caxias, 1 April 2010), was a Brazilian violinist who became famous for a photograph in which he is shown playing a violin at his teacher's funeral. The newspaper O Globo called the image "one of the most moving in recent times".[1] Torquato was part of the AfroReggae String Orchestra,[2] and the image subsequently "became a symbol of hope" for the fight against leukemia and gained the group popularity.[3][4]
Diego Frazão Torquato | |
|---|---|
The 2009 photograph of Torquato playing at his teacher's funeral | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Diego do Violino |
| Born | 1997 |
| Died | 1 April 2010 (aged 12–13) |
| Instrument | Violin |
| Years active | ~2000-2010 |
| Formerly of | AfroReggae String Orchestra |
Life
Torquato was born in 1997. From a young age, Diego lived with illnesses, such as meningitis, but retained an interest in music. Torquato participated in the AfroRaggae String Orchestra Group's workshops in Parada de Lucas and became a notable of the group, which worked to combat the entry of young people into drug trafficking.[1] In December 2009, he participated in Rede Globo's end-of-year anti-trafficking campaign. He was nominated in 2010 for the Faz Diferença Award from the newspaper O Globo.[1]
Illnesses and death
Torquato was subjected to a 24-day hospitalization, after he suffered a generalized infection, which was contracted after appendix surgery.[5] He depended on the help of blood-regulation devices to retain a stable blood pressure, but went into cardiorespiratory arrest. During this period, he was also admitted to Saracuruna Hospital with acute leukemia,[3] but was unable to undergo chemotherapy due to the risk of the procedure. Shortly afterwards, he died as a result of the cardiorespiratory arrest.[3]
See also
Notes
- lit. 'Diego of the violin'