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Mishel LegranComposer, jazz pianist and conductor, creator of the film musical 'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' and the dance revue 'The Girls from Rochefort', music for films and ballets
Date of Birth: 24.02.1932
Country:  France |
Content:
Biography of Michel Legrand
Childhood and YouthMichel Legrand, a composer, jazz pianist, and conductor, was born in Paris in 1932. His parents were both musicians, with his father, Raymond Legrand, writing music and conducting an orchestra in a Parisian variety show. His mother earned a living playing the piano. Music was constantly present in the Legrand household. Michel Legrand learned to entertain himself with the piano as his only toy, picking out chords to melodies he heard on the radio. His Armenian grandfather, Sarkis Ter-Mikaelyan, who left his homeland in 1917, played a role in raising young Michel. They attended church together every Sunday, and his grandfather's extensive collection of records filled the house with music.
At the age of ten, Legrand entered the conservatory, where he felt happy and found friends who spoke the same musical language. He graduated from the conservatory with honors, mastering the piano, harmony, and fugue.
Music
After accompanying the famous French singer Maurice Chevalier, Legrand began his musical career in America. He recorded his debut album, titled "I Love Paris," in 1954, which became a chart-topping success in the United States. In the late 1950s, he performed as a jazz musician, playing compositions by Django Reinhardt and Bix Beiderbecke. In 1958, Legrand released his first jazz album, capturing the spirit of the popular "New Wave" music movement. He also began composing music for films, which brought him worldwide fame.
In 1963, Legrand's musical drama "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" was released, gaining popularity due to Catherine Deneuve's performance and Legrand's poignant soundtracks. The film's songs and score were created by Legrand's sister. The following year, the musical won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and the melody "I Will Wait for You" from "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" became a timeless hit. Legrand was awarded three Oscars throughout his career, as well as five Grammy Awards. He was nominated for the prestigious Academy Award six times, eight times for the Golden Globe, and three times for the Cesar Award.
In the mid-1960s, Legrand, who had composed soundtracks for over 200 films, began singing himself. His vocal abilities were not known for their power or beauty but were well-received by listeners. His song "The Windmills of Your Mind" has been performed by numerous artists, including Paul Mauriat's Orchestra and Sting. In Russia, the composition entered the repertoire of artists such as Mark Tishman and Tamara Gverdtsiteli.
Personal Life
Legrand met the love of his life, Macha Méril, in 1964. They first crossed paths while both were part of the French delegation at a film festival in Brazil. Legrand noticed the beautiful actress on Copacabana Beach and fell in love. However, it was a platonic romance that began and ended in Rio de Janeiro. Legrand was already married with two children, Hervé and Benjamin, waiting for him at home, while Masha was planning to marry an Italian.
They reunited half a century later. Legrand had divorced three times, with two sons and two daughters from his previous marriages, all of whom pursued careers outside the world of arts. Legrand and Méril met again in Paris in 2013 when she was starring in a play, "Closely Related," at the Buff-Parisien Theatre. They decided not to part ways and got married in the fall of 2014 in a ceremony at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Paris, with Legrand converting to the Orthodox faith. Due to Méril's Russian heritage, Legrand had a warm affection for Russia.
Last Years and Death
In 2017, Legrand celebrated his 85th birthday and continued to perform concerts for his Russian fans. On July 1, 2017, he appeared at the "Palaces of St. Petersburg" festival in the Throne Room of the Catherine Palace, accompanied by French musicians Pierre Boussaguet and François Chassagnite. They performed with the Tavrichesky Symphony Orchestra.
On January 26, 2019, Michel Legrand passed away at the age of 86 in Paris. His press attaché announced his death to the journalists.
