Lalo Schifrin, known for his iconic Mission: Impossible theme, is a versatile composer and pianist with expertise in bebop, Latin, and classical music. He began his musical journey in Buenos Aires under the guidance of his father and studied with renowned musicians like Charles Koechlin and Olivier Messiaen in Paris. Schifrin's career blossomed in New York, where he played jazz piano with Dizzy Gillespie before transitioning to composing for film and television in Hollywood, creating memorable scores for movies like Cool Hand Luke and Dirty Harry.
In addition to his film and TV compositions, Schifrin has made significant contributions to the concert hall with works like concertos for guitar, piano, violin, and cello. He also taught composition at U.C.L.A. and arranged music for the Three Tenors concerts. In the 1980s and '90s, he focused on orchestral music and continued to innovate, exploring genres like funk, disco, and serialism. Schifrin's ongoing projects include the Jazz Meets the Symphony series and re-recording his film music for Aleph Records.
