Osvaldo Golijov American composer of Argentine origin Date of Birth: 05.12.1960 Country: Argentina

1. Early Life and Education
2. Move to Israel and the United States
3. Musical Influences and Collaborations
4. Major Works and Recognition
5. Film Scores

Early Life and Education

Osvaldo Golijov was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Jewish parents who had emigrated from Europe in the 1920s. His mother was a Romanian pianist, while his Ukrainian father was a physician. Golijov received his first piano lessons from his mother and attended a Yiddish-language school. He later studied at the Conservatory of La Plata with Gerardo Gandini.

Move to Israel and the United States

In 1983, Golijov moved to Israel, where he studied at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance with Mark Kopytman. Three years later, he relocated to the United States, pursuing composition at the University of Pennsylvania under the tutelage of George Crumb.

Musical Influences and Collaborations

Golijov's music draws inspiration from both Jewish traditions (such as klezmer music and liturgical chant) and Latin American tango. He has frequently collaborated with string quartets like the St. Lawrence Quartet and Kronos Quartet, as well as Argentine composer and guitarist Gustavo Santaolalla and American soprano Dawn Upshaw.

Major Works and Recognition

In 2000, Golijov composed his oratorio "The Passion According to St. Mark" for the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart. The project featured the work of four other notable composers: Tan Dun, Wolfgang Rihm, and Sofia Gubaidulina. In 2006, the Lincoln Center in New York City hosted the inaugural "Osvaldo Golijov's Passions" festival, which honored him as the United States' Composer of the Year.

Film Scores

Golijov has also composed music for several films, including Sally Potter's "The Man Who Cried" (2000), Francis Ford Coppola's "Youth Without Youth" (2007), and "Tetro" (2009).