Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

France

Birth

:

July 6, 1944 in Vannes, France

 

Claude-Michel Schönberg is a French composer of musical theatre and classical music. He was born on July 6, 1944, in Vannes, France. Schönberg grew up in a musical family, with his father being a pianist and his mother a singer. He began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the guitar and the trumpet. Schönberg's interest in music led him to study at the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied harmony, counterpoint, and composition. He also studied orchestration with Noël Gallon and composition with Max Deutsch. During his time at the conservatory, Schönberg was influenced by the works of composers such as Igor Stravinsky, Maurice Ravel, and Claude Debussy. Schönberg's early works were influenced by the French chanson tradition, and he wrote songs for various French singers, including Françoise Hardy and Johnny Hallyday. In the 1970s, Schönberg began to focus on musical theatre, and he collaborated with lyricist Alain Boublil on several productions. One of Schönberg's most famous works is the musical Les Misérables, which he composed with Boublil. The musical is based on the novel by Victor Hugo and tells the story of Jean Valjean, a French peasant who is imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread and later becomes a respected member of society. Les Misérables premiered in Paris in 1980 and was later translated into English and produced in London and New York. The musical has been performed in over 40 countries and has been seen by over 70 million people. Schönberg's other musical theatre works include Miss Saigon, which premiered in London in 1989 and tells the story of a Vietnamese woman and an American soldier during the Vietnam War, and The Pirate Queen, which premiered in Chicago in 2006 and tells the story of Grace O'Malley, an Irish pirate queen. In addition to his work in musical theatre, Schönberg has also composed classical music. His works include the oratorio The Fall of Saigon, which premiered in 2000 and tells the story of the fall of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War, and the opera Martin Guerre, which premiered in London in 1996 and tells the story of a man who returns to his village after being presumed dead. Schönberg's music is known for its emotional power and its ability to tell stories through music. His use of leitmotifs, or recurring musical themes, is a hallmark of his work and helps to create a sense of unity and coherence in his compositions. Schönberg has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Tony Award for Best Original Score for Les Misérables and Miss Saigon, the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical for Les Misérables and Miss Saigon, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music for Les Misérables. In conclusion, Claude-Michel Schönberg is a French composer of musical theatre and classical music. He grew up in a musical family and studied at the Paris Conservatoire. Schönberg's early works were influenced by the French chanson tradition, and he later focused on musical theatre, collaborating with lyricist Alain Boublil on several productions, including Les Misérables and Miss Saigon. Schönberg's music is known for its emotional power and its ability to tell stories through music, and he has received numerous awards and honors for his work.

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