Discover Peru
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Playwright and actor
Novelist
Writer and poet
Volleyball player
Italian-Peruvian naturalist and geographer
Singer and percussionist
Last Inca emperor
Politician, former prime Minister
Journalist and TV host
Poet
Inca warrior
Actor and comedian
Biophysicist
Poet
Doctor and researcher
Businessman, Interbank group
Journalist and writer
Poet and writer
Singer and songwriter
Writer
Film director, Berlin Golden Bear winner
Football player
Writer and journalist
Doctor and scientist
Photograph
Chess player
Industrialist
Former general
Specialist in public health
Actress and singer
Afro-Peruvian music singer
Mathematician and engineer
Indigenous chronicler
Neurologist and anthropologist
Painter
Football player
National hero, military leader
Intellectual and reformer
Chef and entrepreneur
Fashion designer
Singer-songwriter
TV presenter
Marathon runner
Indigenous Peruvian chronicler
Theologian
Former national team captain
Economist and former health minister
Inca princess
Writer and television host
Folk musician
Poet and guerrilla
Former UN secretary-general
Chef, known for fusion cuisine
Football player
Peruvian aviation pioneer
Poet and artist
Marxist philosopher and writer
Industrialist and businessman
Novelist and ethnologist
Painter and muralist
Opera tenor
Fashion designer
Cardinal of Lima
Peruvian tennis player
Football coach
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Military hero
Latin singer
War of the Pacific hero
The youngest mother in history
Politician
Creole music singer
Tennis player
Musician
Writer and politician
Politician and founder of the Christian Democratic Party
Founder of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae
Archaeologist and anthropologist
Military leader and politician
Television host
Actress and singer
Contemporary sculptor
Women’s rights activist
Beauty queen
Astrophysicist
Heroine of independence
Mathematician and archaeologist
Historian and anthropologist
Military figure and historical figure
Fashion photographer
Writer, Nobel Prize in Literature, Politician
Revolutionary leader
Environmental activist
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Musician from Gaia band
War hero
Military leader and politician
Chef, known for Nikkei cuisine
Volleyball coach and former player
Environmental activist
Television personality
Writer
Football player
Epidemiologist and former health Minister
Inventor and aerospace pioneer
Soldier and inventor
Rock singer
Chef and co-owner of Central restaurant
Painter
Football player
TV presenter and actress
Actor
Writer and historian
Journalist and lawyer
Archaeologist, founder of Caral site
Monk and Saint
Saint, patron of Latin America
Physicist and engineer
World champion surfer
Actress
Oncologist
Singer, Latin Grammy winner
Former mayor of Lima
Singer
Actress
Former football player
Painter
Former football player
Painter
Inca leader
Archbishop, saint
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Revolutionary indigenous leader
Diplomat and intellectual
Sculptor and painter
Political leader, founder of APRA
Lawyer and Former prime minister
Chef of Central restaurant
Former head of secret services
Popular singer
Fashion designer
Exotic music singer
Juan José Cueva, born in 1926 in Lima, Peru, is one of the most influential composers and conductors in 20th-century Peruvian classical music. Throughout his career, he played a key role in promoting and developing classical music in Peru, conducting renowned orchestras and composing works that left an indelible mark on the country's musical landscape.
Born into a music-loving family, Juan José Cueva began learning piano at a young age. His musical talent was quickly recognized, and he pursued advanced musical studies in Lima before traveling abroad to further his education. He studied conducting and composition in Europe, particularly in Paris, where he was influenced by the major musical movements of the time.
Upon returning to Peru, he began making a name for himself as a composer and conductor. His first major work, a symphony inspired by the landscapes and culture of Peru, was critically acclaimed. He was soon appointed conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Peru, a position he held for many years.
Throughout his career, Juan José Cueva conducted prestigious orchestras in Peru and abroad. He was also invited to perform at classical music festivals around the world, where he introduced international audiences to Peruvian classical works. His ability to blend European influences with Peruvian musical traditions became one of his artistic signatures.
As a composer, Juan José Cueva wrote numerous works, ranging from chamber music to full symphonies. He also composed ballets and operas that were performed in prestigious theaters. His musical style, while deeply rooted in classical tradition, incorporates elements of Andean and Afro-Peruvian music, creating a unique fusion that reflects Peru's complex cultural identity.
In addition to his work as a conductor and composer, Juan José Cueva was a dedicated educator. He taught music to young Peruvian musicians, encouraging them to explore and develop their talents. Thanks to his commitment, several generations of Peruvian musicians were able to train and achieve international levels of excellence.
He founded music academies in Peru, offering learning opportunities to talented young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. His goal was to make classical music accessible to all and to showcase Peruvian music on the international stage.
Juan José Cueva passed away in 2013, but his legacy endures. His compositions continue to be performed by orchestras in Peru and abroad, and he is recognized as one of the great masters of Peruvian classical music. His ability to merge local musical traditions with the forms and techniques of Western classical music marked a turning point in Peru's musical history.
As a conductor and composer, he elevated Peruvian music to a level of international recognition, helping to build a strong and respected classical music scene. Juan José Cueva remains an iconic figure in Peruvian culture, and his work continues to inspire new artists and composers.