Leos Faltus studied piano and composition at the Brno Conservatory (from 1952 to 1958, composition with Frantisek Suchy and Osvald Chlubna, then continued his studies at the Janacek Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Brno with Vilem Petrzelka and Theodor Schaefer (1958 - 1962). Apart from these teachers, Miloslav Istvan and Ctirad Kohoutek, representatives of new composition trends known as Musica nova (New Music), influenced Faltus' style considerably. Faltus took also a post-graduate course in electronic music at the Janacek Academy (1969 - 71), and attended a composition course at the International Summer Courses for New Music in Darmstadt. He became a teacher at the Pedagogic Faculty of the Brno University (1968 - 1990), since then he lectured at the Janacek Academy in Brno (the head of the Composition Department from 1992). Faltus wrote music reviews for daily paper and specialized press and was appointed the editor (editor-in-chief, 1992 - 1999) for the Complete Critical Edition of Leos Janacek Works (e.g. the reconstructions of the violin concerto Wanderings of a Little Soul and The Danube Symphony have been done by Faltus in collaboration with Milos Stedron).

Leos Faltus' music is defined by great intellectual intensity as well as a considerable emotional effect. Even though he is known for his search for new approaches, he has never tended to break with those traditional aspects which he succeeds in enriching, especially by reshaping musical forms and sound. His works offer a representative selection of all major genres, ranging from piano and chamber compositions to operas. He has been awarded numerous prizes in various contests, most notably the prize awarded to his opera Mr.Theodor in a contest marking the centenary of the Czech Theatre in Brno.