Michel Legrand is an "Oscar-winning" composer, famous for his unusually melodic musical works performed by the best singers and pop orchestras in the world.
Childhood and youth
Future great composer, winner of 5 Grammys, 3 Oscars, as well as Golden Globes Michel Legrand was born in 1932 in Paris. Father is a sought-after composer, as well as a leader, concurrently conductor of a variety show orchestra, and his mother is a pianist.
From childhood, a child grew up in an atmosphere of creativity and love of music. When he was not so many years old, his father left the family, leaving in the care of the fragile mother of two children - Michelle and his sister Christian.
The woman worked very hard to feed her family, and the boy was often left alone. So, in solitude, the child comprehended the piano - the only amusing thing that was in the house. After the fascination of 10-year-old Michel with music became obvious, mother and grandfather, who helped in raising children, sent the child to study at the conservatory. Here, the boy mastered the game not only on the piano, but also on the fugue and harmony. After graduating from the conservatory, Michel Legrand, as an accompanist, went on a world tour with the French singer Maurice Chevalier. After him, he released his first disc, "I Love Paris."
Creative career
In the late 50s, the musician began to gravitate to jazz. He performed jazz compositions of Reinhardt, Baderback, and in 1958 he released a collection in this style. Since 1953, Legrand began to write music for various films. It is in this role that the Frenchman gained popularity around the world. The most famous of the films, the music for which Legrand wrote, was the 1964 melodrama with Catherine Deneuve "Umbrellas of Cherbourg." The film was awarded the "Golden Palm Branch", and Legrand's composition "Autumn Sadness" became a hit for all time.
Michel Legrand - winner of three Oscars. The first he received for his composition for the film "Thomas Crown Scam" in 1969. Also, one figurine was awarded to the composer for the music for the drama "Summer of the 42nd", and another for musical accompaniment to the film "Yentl." In addition, the Frenchman was nominated for an Oscar 3 more times, 8 for a Golden Globe, 3 for a Cesar Award.
In the mid-1960s, Michel Legrand began to sing himself. Although his voice does not have outstanding qualities, the performer immediately fell in love with the audience. In 1978, Michel Legrand released another album. In 1991, the French composer was awarded a Grammy for his album Dingo. Among other things, M. Legrand is famous as the author of music for ballet. In 2011, he wrote compositions for John Neumeier and his ballet Lilyom. In 2013, Michel Legrand recorded the "golden album" with opera singer Natalie Desse. At the age of 86, the tireless composer and musician continues to compose and conduct music, and continues to tour to this day.
