Latest news with #ParisConservatory
Euronews
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Celebrated composer of the 'Mission: Impossible' theme dies aged 93
Lalo Schifrin, the Argentine-American composer who wrote the iconic theme for Mission: Impossible and more than 100 other arrangements for film and television, has died aged 93. Schifrin's son Ryan confirmed that Schifrin died on Thursday due to complications from pneumonia. Schifrin won four Grammys and was nominated for six Oscars, including five for original score for Cool Hand Luke, The Fox, Voyage of the Damned, The Amityville Horror and The Sting II. His other best-known compositions include the scores to Bullitt, THX 1138, Enter The Dragon, The Eagle Has Landed, and his collaborations with Clint Eastwood from the late 1960s to the 1980s, particularly the Dirty Harry films. He also composed the TV themes for The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Mannix and Starsky and Hutch, and famously wrote the grand finale musical performance for the World Cup championship in Italy in 1990, in which the Three Tenors - Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras - sang together for the first time. The work became one of the biggest sellers in the history of classical music. Schifrin, also a jazz pianist and classical conductor, had a remarkable career in music that included working with Dizzy Gillespie and recording with Count Basie and Sarah Vaughan. But perhaps his biggest contribution was the instantly recognizable score to television's Mission: Impossible, which fueled the decades-spanning feature film franchise led by Tom Cruise – which apparently wrapped up this year with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Written in the unusual 5/4 time signature, the theme was married to an on-screen self-destruct clock that kicked off the TV show, which ran from 1966 to 1973. It was described as 'only the most contagious tune ever heard by mortal ears' by New Yorker film critic Anthony Lane and even hit No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968. Born Boris Claudio Schifrin to a Jewish family in Buenos Aires - where his father was the concertmaster of the philharmonic orchestra - Schifrin was classically trained in music, in addition to studying law. After studying at the Paris Conservatory - where he learned about harmony and composition from the legendary Olivier Messiaen - Schifrin returned to Argentina and formed a concert band. Gillespie heard Schifrin perform and asked him to become his pianist, arranger and composer. In 1958, Schifrin moved to the United States, playing in Gillespie's quintet in 1960-62 and composing the acclaimed 'Gillespiana'. The long list of luminaries he performed and recorded with includes Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Dee Dee Bridgewater and George Benson. He also worked with such classical stars as Zubin Mehta, Mstislav Rostropovich, Daniel Barenboim and others. He's survived by his sons, Ryan and William, daughter, Frances, and wife, Donna.
San Francisco Chronicle
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Lalo Schifrin, composer behind ‘Bullitt' and ‘Dirty Harry,' dies at 93
Lalo Schifrin, the trailblazing composer whose music helped define the sound of 1970s action cinema and turned San Francisco into a sonic landmark for filmgoers around the world, died Thursday of complications from pneumonia. He was 93. Schifrin's jazz-inflected, rhythmically daring scores for Steve McQueen's 'Bullitt' (1968) and Clint Eastwood's 'Dirty Harry' (1971) helped establish the musical identities of two of the most iconic films ever set in the Bay Area. He was also hand-picked by Bruce Lee to score his final film, 'Enter the Dragon' (1973). With a deft mix of suspense, funk and atmospheric cool, Schifrin's work elevated car chases down Potrero Hill and showdowns at Aquatic Park into unforgettable cinematic moments. 'Everybody tells me how great the music for the chase in 'Bullitt' is,' Schifrin told The Chronicle in a 2003 interview. 'I didn't do any music for the chase. Four minutes before the chase, where there is a foot chase in the hospital, I build and build the suspense and the tension. And finally, when Steve McQueen finds a way to get to the freeway, at that moment the music stops suddenly. I told the director it would be a mistake to continue the music on the chase. The audience should hear the sounds of the cars, so they know whether the villain or 'Bullitt' is coming. You know what? It worked.' Born Boris Claudio Schifrin in Buenos Aires in 1932, he trained in classical composition at the Paris Conservatory under Olivier Messiaen while moonlighting in jazz clubs. He emigrated to the U.S. after a serendipitous encounter with Dizzy Gillespie, eventually becoming his pianist and arranger. That genre-crossing instinct became the hallmark of his scoring career. In Hollywood, Schifrin's fusion of jazz, Latin rhythms and experimental time signatures made him one of the most distinctive composers of the late 20th century. Schifrin received six Academy Award nominations over his career, including Best Original Score nods for 'Cool Hand Luke' (1967), 'The Fox' (1968), 'Voyage of the Damned' (1976), 'The Amityville Horror' (1979) and 'The Sting II' (1983). He also earned a nomination for Best Original Song for 'People Alone' from 'The Competition' (1980). 'He really was such a genius at combining rhythm, texture, instrumentation and melody in such a powerful and unique way,' Daniel Pemberton, an English composer who wrote the score for the film 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,' wrote on X. His theme for the 'Mission: Impossible' television show — composed in 5/4 time and famously written in just three minutes — became a pop culture staple, earning him Grammy Awards and renewed fame with the Tom Cruise film franchise that launched in 1996. Schifrin applauded you artists who sampled his work, most notably Portishead, who sampled the main riff from 'Danube Incident' for its 1994 hit 'Sour Times.' 'These young people are rediscovering my music and using it in their own way,' he told The Chronicle. 'It's almost like a bridge to a younger generation. It rejuvenates me. The same thing happens with the fact that the two 'Mission: Impossible' movies made people rediscover that theme. That is a very positive sign. I'm not a purist. I'm very far from being a purist.'
Leader Live
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Mission Impossible theme composer Lalo Schifrin dies aged 93
Schifrin's sons, William and Ryan, confirmed his death. The Argentine won four Grammys and was nominated for six Oscars, including five for original score for the movies: Cool Hand Luke; The Fox; Voyage of the Damned; The Amityville Horror; and The Sting II. 'Every movie has its own personality. There are no rules to write music for movies,' Schifrin told the Associated Press in 2018. 'The movie dictates what the music will be.' Schifrin also wrote the grand finale musical performance for the World Cup in Italy in 1990, in which the Three Tenors: Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras; sang together for the first time. The work became one of the biggest sellers in the history of classical music. Born Boris Claudio Schifrin to a Jewish family in Buenos Aires, where his father was the concertmaster of the philharmonic orchestra, Schifrin was classically trained in music, in addition to studying law. After studying at the Paris Conservatory, where he learned about harmony and composition from composer Olivier Messiaen, Schifrin returned to Argentina and formed a concert band. Jazz great Dizzy Gillespie heard Schifrin perform and asked him to become his pianist, arranger and composer. In 1958, Schifrin moved to the United States where he performed and recorded with famous names including Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Dee Dee Bridgewater and George Benson. He also moved into writing music for television and Hollywood movies. In 2018, he was given an honorary Oscar statuette, which was presented to him by Clint Eastwood. In addition to his sons, he is survived by his daughter, Frances, and wife, Donna.
Powys County Times
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Mission Impossible theme composer Lalo Schifrin dies aged 93
Lalo Schifrin, the composer who wrote the theme for Mission: Impossible and more than 100 other arrangements for film and television, has died at 93. Schifrin's sons, William and Ryan, confirmed his death. The Argentine won four Grammys and was nominated for six Oscars, including five for original score for the movies: Cool Hand Luke; The Fox; Voyage of the Damned; The Amityville Horror; and The Sting II. 'Every movie has its own personality. There are no rules to write music for movies,' Schifrin told the Associated Press in 2018. 'The movie dictates what the music will be.' Schifrin also wrote the grand finale musical performance for the World Cup in Italy in 1990, in which the Three Tenors: Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras; sang together for the first time. The work became one of the biggest sellers in the history of classical music. Born Boris Claudio Schifrin to a Jewish family in Buenos Aires, where his father was the concertmaster of the philharmonic orchestra, Schifrin was classically trained in music, in addition to studying law. After studying at the Paris Conservatory, where he learned about harmony and composition from composer Olivier Messiaen, Schifrin returned to Argentina and formed a concert band. Jazz great Dizzy Gillespie heard Schifrin perform and asked him to become his pianist, arranger and composer. In 1958, Schifrin moved to the United States where he performed and recorded with famous names including Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Dee Dee Bridgewater and George Benson. He also moved into writing music for television and Hollywood movies. In 2018, he was given an honorary Oscar statuette, which was presented to him by Clint Eastwood. In addition to his sons, he is survived by his daughter, Frances, and wife, Donna.
The Advertiser
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Composer of Mission Impossible theme dies, aged 93
Lalo Schifrin, the composer who wrote the theme for Mission: Impossible and more than 100 other arrangements for film and television, has died at 93. Schifrin's sons, William and Ryan, confirmed his death. The Argentine won four Grammys and was nominated for six Oscars, including five for original score for the movies: Cool Hand Luke; The Fox; Voyage of the Damned; The Amityville Horror; and The Sting II. "The movie dictates what the music will be." Schifrin also wrote the grand finale musical performance for the World Cup in Italy in 1990, in which the Three Tenors: Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras, sang together for the first time. The work became one of the biggest sellers in the history of classical music. Born Boris Claudio Schifrin to a Jewish family in Buenos Aires, where his father was the concertmaster of the philharmonic orchestra, Schifrin was classically trained in music, in addition to studying law. After studying at the Paris Conservatory, where he learned about harmony and composition from composer Olivier Messiaen, Schifrin returned to Argentina and formed a concert band. Jazz great Dizzy Gillespie heard Schifrin perform and asked him to become his pianist, arranger and composer. In 1958, Schifrin moved to the United States where he performed and recorded with famous names including Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Dee Dee Bridgewater and George Benson. He also moved into writing music for television and Hollywood movies. In 2018, he was given an honorary Oscar statuette, which was presented to him by Clint Eastwood. In addition to his sons, he is survived by his daughter, Frances, and wife, Donna. Lalo Schifrin, the composer who wrote the theme for Mission: Impossible and more than 100 other arrangements for film and television, has died at 93. Schifrin's sons, William and Ryan, confirmed his death. The Argentine won four Grammys and was nominated for six Oscars, including five for original score for the movies: Cool Hand Luke; The Fox; Voyage of the Damned; The Amityville Horror; and The Sting II. "The movie dictates what the music will be." Schifrin also wrote the grand finale musical performance for the World Cup in Italy in 1990, in which the Three Tenors: Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras, sang together for the first time. The work became one of the biggest sellers in the history of classical music. Born Boris Claudio Schifrin to a Jewish family in Buenos Aires, where his father was the concertmaster of the philharmonic orchestra, Schifrin was classically trained in music, in addition to studying law. After studying at the Paris Conservatory, where he learned about harmony and composition from composer Olivier Messiaen, Schifrin returned to Argentina and formed a concert band. Jazz great Dizzy Gillespie heard Schifrin perform and asked him to become his pianist, arranger and composer. In 1958, Schifrin moved to the United States where he performed and recorded with famous names including Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Dee Dee Bridgewater and George Benson. He also moved into writing music for television and Hollywood movies. In 2018, he was given an honorary Oscar statuette, which was presented to him by Clint Eastwood. In addition to his sons, he is survived by his daughter, Frances, and wife, Donna. Lalo Schifrin, the composer who wrote the theme for Mission: Impossible and more than 100 other arrangements for film and television, has died at 93. Schifrin's sons, William and Ryan, confirmed his death. The Argentine won four Grammys and was nominated for six Oscars, including five for original score for the movies: Cool Hand Luke; The Fox; Voyage of the Damned; The Amityville Horror; and The Sting II. "The movie dictates what the music will be." Schifrin also wrote the grand finale musical performance for the World Cup in Italy in 1990, in which the Three Tenors: Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras, sang together for the first time. The work became one of the biggest sellers in the history of classical music. Born Boris Claudio Schifrin to a Jewish family in Buenos Aires, where his father was the concertmaster of the philharmonic orchestra, Schifrin was classically trained in music, in addition to studying law. After studying at the Paris Conservatory, where he learned about harmony and composition from composer Olivier Messiaen, Schifrin returned to Argentina and formed a concert band. Jazz great Dizzy Gillespie heard Schifrin perform and asked him to become his pianist, arranger and composer. In 1958, Schifrin moved to the United States where he performed and recorded with famous names including Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Dee Dee Bridgewater and George Benson. He also moved into writing music for television and Hollywood movies. In 2018, he was given an honorary Oscar statuette, which was presented to him by Clint Eastwood. In addition to his sons, he is survived by his daughter, Frances, and wife, Donna. Lalo Schifrin, the composer who wrote the theme for Mission: Impossible and more than 100 other arrangements for film and television, has died at 93. Schifrin's sons, William and Ryan, confirmed his death. The Argentine won four Grammys and was nominated for six Oscars, including five for original score for the movies: Cool Hand Luke; The Fox; Voyage of the Damned; The Amityville Horror; and The Sting II. "The movie dictates what the music will be." Schifrin also wrote the grand finale musical performance for the World Cup in Italy in 1990, in which the Three Tenors: Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras, sang together for the first time. The work became one of the biggest sellers in the history of classical music. Born Boris Claudio Schifrin to a Jewish family in Buenos Aires, where his father was the concertmaster of the philharmonic orchestra, Schifrin was classically trained in music, in addition to studying law. After studying at the Paris Conservatory, where he learned about harmony and composition from composer Olivier Messiaen, Schifrin returned to Argentina and formed a concert band. Jazz great Dizzy Gillespie heard Schifrin perform and asked him to become his pianist, arranger and composer. In 1958, Schifrin moved to the United States where he performed and recorded with famous names including Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Dee Dee Bridgewater and George Benson. He also moved into writing music for television and Hollywood movies. In 2018, he was given an honorary Oscar statuette, which was presented to him by Clint Eastwood. In addition to his sons, he is survived by his daughter, Frances, and wife, Donna.
