Franz Waxman

Franz Waxman, born on December twenty-fourth, nineteen oh six, was a distinguished composer and conductor of Jewish descent, whose legacy is primarily rooted in the realm of film music. His remarkable contributions to cinema include iconic scores for classics such as Bride of Frankenstein, Rebecca, Sunset Boulevard, A Place in the Sun, Stalag 17, Rear Window, Peyton Place, The Nun's Story, and Taras Bulba.

Throughout his illustrious career, Waxman garnered twelve Academy Award nominations, triumphing with two Oscars in consecutive years for his work on Sunset Boulevard and A Place in the Sun. His score for Sunset Boulevard also earned him a Golden Globe Award, further solidifying his status as a leading figure in film composition. Notably, Bernard Herrmann praised the score for Taras Bulba as 'the score of a lifetime.'

In addition to his film work, Waxman composed significant concert pieces, including the oratorio Joshua in nineteen fifty-nine and The Song of Terezín, a poignant work created between nineteen sixty-four and nineteen sixty-five. This latter piece, for orchestra, chorus, and children's chorus, draws inspiration from poetry written by children in the Theresienstadt concentration camp during World War II.

Waxman's influence extended beyond composition; in nineteen forty-seven, he founded the Los Angeles Music Festival, where he conducted numerous West Coast premieres by fellow film composers and concert musicians alike. His dedication to music and the arts has left an indelible mark on both the film and concert music landscapes.