Francisco Vila Y Dalmau was one of the most distinguished and influential musicians in Funchal, in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Despite possibly being a native of Spain, he lived in Madeira for about 20 years, having developed his musical activity in varied areas such as orchestra direction, composition, choir singing, opera, religious music and education (piano, violin, and harmony). His first musical activities in Madeira occurred in opera. In July 1879, the Daily News reported that a group of singers of Italian and French origin, called the Lyric Company of Verdini and Dejean, held vocal and instrumental concerts in Funchal, together with the maestro Francisco Vila. The conductor would have taken the opportunity during his stay in Funchal to give private music lessons, since the same journal reported that the musician taught piano, fiddle and harmony. In this first contact with Funchal society, Francisco Vila made friends with some personalities of Madeira, some of who were related to music. One example is the case of the well renowned piano teacher Maria Capitolina Crawford Nascimento, to whom the musician dedicated a composition titled "La Constancia", in August 1879. After a period of absence, the Lyric Company returned in November of that year to Madeira, having performed Italian operas in full, at the ‘Teatro Esperança’. The group's activities remained for a few months, dissolving only in July 1880. Despite the end of the lyrical Company, Francisco Vila set up residence that year in Funchal and in 1883, on April 28th, married Sofia Jerino da Silva. His prestige must have been high since he secured the post of treasurer at the division of public works, and in 1885, according to the ‘Elucidário Madeirense’ the Town Hall subsidized the creation of a school for choir singing in which Francisco Vila was a teacher. The school, however, lasted a short time. After the failure of this school, it is known that the musician would have continued his musical activities in orchestra direction, having conducted the orchestra in 1887 that was formed by José Maria Fructuoso da Silva to play at the new theatre, as well as the ‘Sociedade 25 de Janeiro de 1887’. He directed the first concert of this group - which consisted of a renowned music player from Madeira, Nuno Graceliano Lino, at the ‘Palácio de São Lourenço’. There are few stories about his activities in the 90s, although it is known he performed on the piano in 1892, at the formerly named ‘Teatro D. Maria Pia’ (now Municipal Theatre), together with the Madeiran musician Agostinho Martins (conductor of the then famous ‘Orquestra Característica Madeirense’) and had the honour to assume the post of master of the ‘Capela da Sé’ - Funchal. He died in Funchal in 1900.
Francisco Vila Y Dalmau was one of the most distinguished and influential musicians in Funchal, in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Despite possibly being a native of Spain, he lived in Madeira for about 20 years, having developed his musical activity in varied areas such as orchestra direction, composition, choir singing, opera, religious music and education (piano, violin, and harmony). His first musical activities in Madeira occurred in opera. In July 1879, the Daily News reported that a group of singers of Italian and French origin, called the Lyric Company of Verdini and Dejean, held vocal and instrumental concerts in Funchal, together with the maestro Francisco Vila. The conductor would have taken the opportunity during his stay in Funchal to give private music lessons, since the same journal reported that the musician taught piano, fiddle and harmony. In this first contact with Funchal society, Francisco Vila made friends with some personalities of Madeira, some of who were related to music. One example is the case of the well renowned piano teacher Maria Capitolina Crawford Nascimento, to whom the musician dedicated a composition titled "La Constancia", in August 1879. After a period of absence, the Lyric Company returned in November of that year to Madeira, having performed Italian operas in full, at the ‘Teatro Esperança’. The group's activities remained for a few months, dissolving only in July 1880. Despite the end of the lyrical Company, Francisco Vila set up residence that year in Funchal and in 1883, on April 28th, married Sofia Jerino da Silva. His prestige must have been high since he secured the post of treasurer at the division of public works, and in 1885, according to the ‘Elucidário Madeirense’ the Town Hall subsidized the creation of a school for choir singing in which Francisco Vila was a teacher. The school, however, lasted a short time. After the failure of this school, it is known that the musician would have continued his musical activities in orchestra direction, having conducted the orchestra in 1887 that was formed by José Maria Fructuoso da Silva to play at the new theatre, as well as the ‘Sociedade 25 de Janeiro de 1887’. He directed the first concert of this group - which consisted of a renowned music player from Madeira, Nuno Graceliano Lino, at the ‘Palácio de São Lourenço’. There are few stories about his activities in the 90s, although it is known he performed on the piano in 1892, at the formerly named ‘Teatro D. Maria Pia’ (now Municipal Theatre), together with the Madeiran musician Agostinho Martins (conductor of the then famous ‘Orquestra Característica Madeirense’) and had the honour to assume the post of master of the ‘Capela da Sé’ - Funchal. He died in Funchal in 1900.