Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

May 2, 1954 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Film

 

Elliot Goldenthal is a renowned American composer of classical music, film scores, and operas. He was born on May 2, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family. Goldenthal's parents were both music lovers, and his father was a violinist. As a child, Goldenthal was exposed to a wide range of music genres, including classical, jazz, and rock. He started playing the piano at the age of six and later learned to play the violin and trumpet. Goldenthal attended the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied composition with John Corigliano and Aaron Copland. He also studied at the New York University School of Arts, where he earned a degree in musicology. During his studies, Goldenthal was influenced by the works of composers such as Igor Stravinsky, Arnold Schoenberg, and Alban Berg. Goldenthal's career as a composer began in the late 1970s when he started writing music for theater productions. He collaborated with director Julie Taymor on several productions, including "The Transposed Heads" and "The Green Bird." In 1984, Goldenthal composed the music for the off-Broadway play "Juan Darien," which earned him critical acclaim and a Drama Desk Award. In the 1980s, Goldenthal also started composing music for films. His first film score was for the horror movie "Invaders from Mars" in 1986. He went on to compose music for several other films, including "Pet Sematary" (1989), "Alien 3" (1992), and "Interview with the Vampire" (1994). Goldenthal's film scores are known for their complex orchestration, use of unconventional instruments, and incorporation of electronic music. Goldenthal's breakthrough as a film composer came with his score for the 1992 film "Batman Returns." The score, which featured a full orchestra and choir, was praised for its dark and brooding tone, which perfectly captured the mood of the film. Goldenthal's work on "Batman Returns" earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score. Goldenthal continued to work on films throughout the 1990s and 2000s, composing music for movies such as "Heat" (1995), "Sphere" (1998), and "Frida" (2002). His score for "Frida," a biopic about the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, earned him his second Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score. In addition to his work in film, Goldenthal has also composed several operas. His first opera, "Grendel," premiered in 2006 at the Los Angeles Opera. The opera, which is based on the Anglo-Saxon epic poem "Beowulf," was praised for its innovative use of electronic music and its exploration of the psychological motivations of the characters. Goldenthal's other operas include "The Golden Ticket," based on Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," and "Prometheus," based on the Greek myth of the same name. Goldenthal's operas have been performed at several prestigious venues, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Goldenthal's music is known for its eclectic style, which combines elements of classical music, rock, jazz, and electronic music. His compositions often feature complex rhythms, unconventional harmonies, and a wide range of instruments. Goldenthal's music is also known for its emotional depth and its ability to capture the mood and atmosphere of the works it accompanies. In addition to his work as a composer, Goldenthal has also taught music at several universities, including the University of Southern California and the Sundance Institute.

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