Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

December 20, 1934

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Gordon Getty is an American composer and philanthropist who was born on December 20, 1933, in San Francisco, California. He is the fourth child of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty and his wife, Ann Rork. Getty grew up in a wealthy family and was exposed to music at a young age. His mother was a pianist, and his father had a passion for classical music. Getty attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco and later went on to study at the University of San Francisco. He then transferred to the University of Oxford in England, where he earned a degree in modern history. While at Oxford, Getty studied music composition with composer and conductor John Joubert. After completing his studies, Getty returned to the United States and began composing music. His early works were heavily influenced by the music of the Romantic era, particularly the works of Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss. Getty's first major work was his opera "Plump Jack," which premiered in 1984 at the San Francisco Opera. The opera is based on the character of Sir John Falstaff from William Shakespeare's plays "Henry IV" and "The Merry Wives of Windsor." Getty's other notable works include his choral symphony "Joan and the Bells," which was commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony and premiered in 1992. The piece is based on the life of Joan of Arc and features a choir, soloists, and orchestra. Getty's other works include his "Four Dickinson Songs," which are settings of poems by Emily Dickinson, and his "Annabel Lee," which is based on the poem by Edgar Allan Poe. In addition to his work as a composer, Getty is also a philanthropist. He has donated millions of dollars to various causes, including the arts, education, and medical research. Getty is a member of the board of trustees of the San Francisco Symphony and has also served on the boards of the San Francisco Opera and the Getty Foundation. Despite his success as a composer and philanthropist, Getty has faced criticism and controversy throughout his life. In the 1970s, he was involved in a high-profile divorce case with his first wife, Ann Gilbert Getty. The case was widely covered by the media and resulted in a settlement that reportedly cost Getty millions of dollars. Getty has also faced criticism for his involvement in the Getty Oil Company, which was founded by his father. The company was involved in several controversies, including a 1973 kidnapping of J. Paul Getty's grandson, John Paul Getty III. The incident was the subject of the 2017 film "All the Money in the World." Despite these controversies, Getty's contributions to the world of classical music and philanthropy cannot be denied. His works have been performed by some of the world's leading orchestras and have earned him a place among the great composers of the 20th and 21st centuries.

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