Born into a family with skilled hands and a musical ear, Hugo Raposo was crafting wooden toys on a lathe in secret by the age of five.
Now, in his workshop in Ponta Delgada, he handcrafts string instruments, specialising in the Portuguese guitar and refining the sound of the viola da terra, the emblematic instrument of the Azores.
“To draw the best sound from an instrument, you must listen to the wood,” he says. German spruce, Canadian cedar, Madagascar rosewood, Indian rosewood—each type of wood dictates its own tone and resonance.
The distinct sound and timbre of his instruments have earned him international recognition. He can identify them by ear alone.
The carved heart motifs on the soundboard, forming the crown of Senhor Santo Cristo, are the hallmark of this instrument.
At Octant Ponta Delgada, guests can learn how to identify a true viola da terra and discover its unique sound.
Hugo Raposo inherited both his craftsmanship and his love for music.
As a child, he would watch his father at work in his barber shop in Ponta Delgada, where, in his spare time, he played fado guitar, often accompanying José Pracana—on an instrument he had built himself.
Hugo followed in his father’s footsteps, enrolling in carpentry and woodworking studies at the Capelas Professional School. He later trained under Master Grácio, a renowned guitar maker, learning that crafting an instrument is more than just geometry—it requires soul.
His meticulous attention to sound and timber selection has earned him a reputation worldwide. Without false modesty, he acknowledges that he has successfully refined the sound of the viola da terra, the signature instrument of the Azorean archipelago.
The viola da terra of São Miguel has 12 strings, five frets, a shallow fingerboard, and a unique tuning and decoration. On Terceira Island, the viola is different—15 strings, six frets.
The decorative elements vary, but the carved hearts forming the crown of Senhor Santo Cristo are a symbolic signature of the instrument.
Hugo Raposo walks in the footsteps of his masters, shaping his journey one step at a time since 1989.
Still young, he continues to balance his craft with other roles, including logistics at the Coliseu Micaelense—because, as he says, life experience makes for a better instrument maker.
It takes him two months to complete a viola da terra or a Portuguese guitar. He receives orders from around the world and can recognise the sound of his own guitars with his eyes closed.
Now, with conscious intention, he too is becoming a master in his own right.
And with optimism, he looks forward to the day when someone will carry on his art.
Hugo Raposo is a true craftsman of the Azores.
