Just heard the sad news on the radio: Michel Legrand passed away at the age of 86. Over the last years he dedicated himself more to concert music, publishing for instance two concertos, one for piano and one for cello.
Thanks for your talent and dedication, a whole life full of music!
I remember first hearing that theme when they used it as the Trailer music for THE TURNING POINT in 1977. I was so disappointed when I went to see the movie and it wasn't in it and then not on the Soundtrack as well. Had no idea at the time that it was Legrand and was from THREE MUSKETEERS.
I'm heartbroken. I've long considered him among the greatest composers in history. I'll never forget the first time I saw/heard "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" - I was in high school and it was life changing. The music literally sounded like Heaven to me, so much so that I could barely even believe what I was hearing. It was perfect to my ears and touched my heart deeply. But there is so much of his work that is so beautiful and marvelous and unlike any other composer. He always seemed like such a kind, joyous man in interviews too.
The writer states that the main theme from THE THOMAS CROWN was inspired by the slow movement of Mozart's Sinfonia concertante for violin, viola and orchestra, K. 364. I wasn't aware of this and will check it. They also mention a favourite album of mine, ARCHI CORDES. I will play it now as a tribute.
Bill, his childhood has been evoked in the book co-written with Stéphane Lerouge, RIEN DE GRAVE DANS LES AIGUS (reissued and augmented lately under the title J'AI LE REGRET DE VOUS DIRE OUI) but I don't think it's available in English thus far.
A life to be CELEBRATED! Eighty-six years is a great run for anyone and the fact that his creativity never waned is astonishing. I will be listening to a lot of Legrand today - one of my favorites, and a really nice guy.
Sorry to hear this news. I came to appreciate Mr Legrand quite late in life, but once I'd heard ICE STATION ZEBRA on the FSM release, I sought out many more of his scores. And I loved his big band jazz. RIP.
Always liked his music and have commented here before that videos of his jazz concerts were worth the invention of the internet on their own. More than just being a wonderful composer and pianist, he had a deceptively good singing voice and appeared to love collaborating with other musicians. And he always seems to have a smile on his face. I made the mistake of watching him on YouTube singing “What Are You Doing the Rest of your Life” after I saw the news of his death, and I’m not ashamed to say that I teared up a bit.
I always forget about him when it comes to silly lists of your favourite composers, but in truth he’s been there for decades as someone who’s never let me down when I’ve wanted a particular type of “spiritual” lift or just needed flipping cheering up.
The best thing in life is to be yourself. But if you can’t be yourself, be Michel Legrand.
Sad to hear this. Only last night I was listening to the Summer of '42 CD. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg will always be a favourite of mine along with The Thomas Crown Affair.
This one really hurts! One of my favorite film composers EVER! His scores to the films of Jacques Demy are glorious. One of his greatest film scores is to a film too few have seen, The Picasso Summer. His melodies from Yentl alternately soothe and soar. And then there's his marvelous underscore to Lester's The Three Musketeers, perfectly in sync with Lester's wink of the eye. His album with Sarah Vaughan doing his songs is a gem. I could go on and on. RIP, Maestro!
As a fitting tribute to Legrand's greatness, here's a very moving piece from the album BETWEEN YESTERDAY AND TOMORROW, originally written for Barbra Streisand and eventually recorded in 2017 by Nathalie Dessay: the song 'Last breath', with a magnificent English horn solo and the music fading away up until the end:
Such sad news to wake up to; my Facebook feed is full of condolences.
I've actually had a "Michel Legrand" folder in my podcast folder for about a year or so, intending to make a tribute episode about him, but then postponing it in the chance I would be able to meet and interview him (I sadly missed his performance at the Oslo opera house a few years ago). But now I'll obviously create one in a few weeks, under far more sad circumstances.
Legrand was one of the big ones of a generation that is sadly down to a handful or so at this point. I have several of his albums; even his lavish 4CD longbox set from about a decade or so ago. Was always a fan.
When I read that headline I was immediately saddened. It is amazing that you can feel this way about someone you have never meet.But of course you know them through their music. One of my most often played scores comes from Michel Legrand - The other side of Midnight. A beautiful score with such lush music.
