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
The future great composer, winner of 5 Grammy, 3 Oscars, and Golden Globe Michel Legrand was born in 1932 in Paris. His father is a popular composer, as well as the leader, concurrently conductor of a variety show orchestra, and his mother is a pianist.
From childhood, the child grew up in an atmosphere of creativity and love for music. When he was not so many years old, his father left the family, leaving two children in the care of a fragile mother - Michel and his sister Christian.
The woman worked very hard to feed her family, and the boy was often left alone. So, alone, the child comprehended the piano - the only amusing thing that was in the house. After 10-year-old Michel's passion for music became apparent, his mother and grandfather, who helped in raising children, sent the child to study at the conservatory. Here the boy mastered playing not only the piano, but also the fugue and accordion. 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 towards jazz. He performed jazz compositions by Reinhard, Beiderbek, and in 1958 released a collection in this style. Since 1953, Legrand began to write music for various films. It was in this role that the Frenchman gained popularity all over the world. The most famous of the films, the music for which was written by Legrand, was the 1964 melodrama with Catherine Deneuve "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg". The film was awarded the Palme d'Or, and Legrand's composition "Autumnal Sorrow" became a hit of all time.
Michel Legrand is the winner of three Oscars. The first he received for the composition for the film "The Thomas Crown Affair" in 1969. Also, one statuette was awarded to the composer for the music for the drama "Summer of the 42nd", and one more - for the musical accompaniment to the film "Yentl". In addition, the Frenchman was nominated 3 more times for an Oscar, 8 for a Golden Globe, and 3 for a Cesar.
In the mid-1960s, Michel Legrand began to sing himself. Although his voice does not have outstanding qualities, the audience immediately fell in love with the performer. In 1978, another album by Michel Legrand was released. In 1991, the French composer was awarded a Grammy for his album Dingo. Among other things, M. Legrand is famous as the author of the music for the ballet. In 2011 he wrote compositions for John Neumeier and his ballet Liliom. In 2013, Michel Legrand recorded the "Golden Album" with the opera singer Natalie Desse. The tireless composer and musician in his 86 years continues to compose music, conduct, he tours to this day.
Personal life
M. Legrand has four children from different marriages. Two sons became musicians, one of the daughters is engaged in equestrian sports, the other - in driving. In 2014, Legrand married Masha Merrill, a woman he has known for 50 years.
