Luís Enríquez Bacalov
Born: 30 March 1933, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Biography:
Argentine composer Luís Enríquez Bacalov began his music education at an early age, studying the piano with the famed conductor Enrique Barenboim, among others. He began his career recording music in his native Argentina, performing concerts and piano recitals, and subsequently working for the Radio and Television service in Colombia. Moving to Europe and basing himself in Italy, Bacalov joined the record label RCA to work as a staff writer and composer, writing songs for many of the artists on their roster, and playing the piano on sessions. Bacalov's work arranging the music for Valerio Zurlini’s film "La Ragazza Con La Valigia" in 1960 eventually led to him being asked to write his first score, "I Due Della Legione Straniera" in 1962. Since then, Bacalov has become a prolific composer of European film scores, having working with directors such as Lina Wertmüller, Diane Kurys, Pierpaolo Pasolini, Federico Fellini, and many others. His list of credits includes such classics as the Oscar-nominated "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" (1964), "Django" (1966), "¿Quien Sabe?" (1967), "Il Grande Duello" (1972), "La Citta Delle Donne" (1980), "The Love Letter" (1999) and "Women on Top" (2000), as well as a number of cult spaghetti westerns produced during the 1970s. He unexpectedly and controversially beat out James Horner and Thomas Newman to win an Academy Award in 1995 for his work on Michael Radford’s poetic "Il Postino", a score which includes the tango rhythms and textures in which Bacalov specialises, and which have featured in many scores throughout his career. Despite his activity as a film composer slowing in recent years, Bacalov continues to perform extensively throughout Europe and Latin America as a piano soloist, as well as with his own tango quartet, which he uses to indulge his love of ethnic, urban and contemporary music.
Filmography:
Dare to Love Me (2007), Angela (2005), Sea of Dreams (2005), The Dust Factory (2004), Quiet Flows the Don (2004), Marcinelle (2003), Assassination Tango (2002), Fellini: Je Suis un Grand Menteur (2002), Il Consiglio d'Egitto (2002), Come l'America (2001), L’Aîné des Ferchaux (2001), Regina Degli Scacchi (2001), Il Cielo Cade (2000), It Had To Be You (2000), Woman on Top (2000), Il Gioco (1999), Les Enfants du Siècle (1999), The Love Letter (1999), Milonga (1999), Panni Sporchi (1999), Secret of the Andes (1999), Frontera Sur (1998), Polish Wedding (1998), Il Nostro Piccolo Angelo (1997), Don Milani - Il Priore di Barbiana (1997), Mamma, Mi Si È Depresso Papà (1996), Ilona Arriva Con La Pioggia (1996), Dopo La Tempesta (1996), L'Avvocato Delle Donne (1996), La Frontiera (1996), Mi Fai Un Favore (1996), La Tregua (1996), Il Postino (1994), Anni Ribelli (1994), Un Storia Semplice (1991), La Bahía Esmeralda (1989), La Bugiarda (1989), Leonardo's Dream (1989), La Maschera (1988), Maniac Killer (1987), Le Transfuge (1985), Le Juge (1984), Un Caso di Incoscienza (1984), Una Strana Passione (1984), Un Amour Interdit (1984), Ars Amandi (1983), Entre Nous (1983), Le Jeune Marié, Le (1983), La Città Delle Donne (1980), La Ragazza di Via Millelire (1980), La Giacca Verde (1979), Improvviso (1979), Ten to Survive (1979), Vacanze per un Massacro (1979), Il Balordo (1978), Diamanti Sporchi Di Sangue (1977), Gli Esecutorili (1976), Gli Amici di Nick Hezard (1976), Un Anno di Scuola (1976), Il Conto è Chiuso (1976), I Padroni Della Città (1976), L'Ultima Chance (1975), La Città Sconvolta: Caccia Spietata ai Rapitori (1975), Colpita da Improvviso Benessere (1975), Il Lungo Viaggio (1975), , L'Uomo Che Sfido L'organizzazione (1975), L'Amica di Mia Madre (1974), Colpo in Canna (1974), Il Poliziotto è Marcio (1974), Vado Sistemo L'America e Torno (1974), Il Boss (1973), Donnez-Nous Notre Amour Quotidien (1973), La Rosa Rossa (1973), La Seduzione (1973), Il Grande Duello (1972), Si Può Fare Amigo (1972), Beati i Ricchi (1972), A Man Called Noon (1972), Monta in Sella, Figlio Di...! (1972), Un Verano Para Matar (1972), Lo Chiamavano King (1971), Milano Calibro 9 (1971), Roma Bene (1971), La Supertestimone (1971), La Vittima Designata (1971), Il Prezzo del Potere (1970), L'Oro dei Bravados (1970), L'Amica (1969), Cuori Solitari (1969), La Morte Sull'alta Collina (1969), I Quattro Del Pater Noster (1969), The Vatican Affair (1968), La Bambolona (1968), La Pecora Nera (1968), I Protagonisti (1968), Questi Fantasmi (1968), Rebus (1968), Una Rosa Per Tutti (1967), A Ciascuno Il Suo (1967), Per Amore Per Magia (1967), La Più Grande Rapina Nel West (1967), Lo Scatenato (1967), Tutto Per Tutto (1967), ¿Quien Sabe?(1967), Django (1966), Sugar Colt (1966), Oggi Domani Dopodomani (1965), Questa Volta Parliamo Di Uomini (1965), A Question of Honour (1965), Una Vergine per il Principe (1965), The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964), Donde Tú Estés (1964), La Noia (1964), La Congiuntura (1964), Extraconiugale (1964), Vino Whisky E Acqua Salata (1963), I Due Della Legione Straniera (1962).
Highest Grossing Films as at end of 2007 (adjusted for inflation):
Il Postino ($35.6m), The Love Letter ($11.6m), Entre Nous ($8.4m), Woman on Top ($6.6m), The Gospel According to Saint Matthew (unavailable).
Awards:
1995 Academy Awards - Winner, Best Original Dramatic Score - Il Postino
1967 Academy Awards - Nominees, Best Music (Adaptation or Treatment) - The Gospel According to St. Matthew
1995 BAFTA Awards - Winner, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music - Il Postino
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