SCHIFRIN, LALO

SCHIFRIN, LALO (Boris; 1932– ), composer, pianist, and conductor of Argentinian birth. He studied music, piano, and harmony in Buenos Aires and later in the Paris Conservatoire (1950), guided by Koechlin and Messiaen. Returning home, he established himself as a composer, arranger, conductor, and pianist who was equally at ease in popular, jazz, and art-music circles. He founded Argentina's first big band and later moved to New York (1958). There he played the piano in Dizzy Gillespie's jazz quintet (1960–62) and recorded with other known jazz artists. From 1962 to the early 1980s Schifrin concentrated on composition. He went to Hollywood (1964) and wrote numerous scores for both television and the cinema, including the memorable themes to Mission Impossible and Dirty Harry. His works often involve jazz, funk, and disco elements, as well as a synthesis of contemporary art-music elements. Schifrin wrote many vocal and instrumental works in other fields, including concertos, suites, an oratorio (The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, 1967), ballets and symphonic pieces. Among his later commissions was Fantasy for Screenplay and Orchestra (2002–3). Schifrin taught composition at UCLA (1968–71) but, from the 1980s onwards, concentrated on conducting, performing with leading orchestras such as the London Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras, the Vienna SO, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Israel Philharmonic. He conducted several concerts of the "Three Tenors" and was appointed music director of the Glendale SO (1989–1995). During his illustrious career, Schifrin received four Grammy Awards and six Oscar nominations. Among his other honors were BMI Lifetime Achievement Award (1988), Distinguished Artist Award (1998), and honorary doctorates. He was honored by the Israeli government for his "Contributions to World Understanding through Music" and by the SACEM and Cannes Film Festival in recognition of his significant contribution to music, film and culture. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: "Schifrin Wows Them in Israel with Music and Media Appearances (Tel Aviv Spring Festival)," in: Variety, 303 (May 20, 1981), 97; V. Sheff, "Lalo Schifrin – Profile," in: BMI – Music World (Winter 1989), 52–5; J. Burlingame, "Lalo Schifrin: An Appreciation," in The Cue Sheet, Jan. 2001, 17:1 (Jan. 2001), 3–20; Grove Online. (Naama Ramot (2nd ed.)