Carlos Miranda facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carlos Miranda
Carlos Miranda in 2013
Born	(1945-01-17)17 January 1945 Santiago, Chile
Nationality	Spanish-Chilean
Alma mater	The Royal College of Music, London
Occupation	Music composer, pianist, conductor and actor

Carlos Miranda, born Luis Carlos Miranda Cordal on July 17, 1945, in Santiago, Chile, is a talented Spanish composer, pianist, conductor, and actor. He is known for his work in music for dance, films, and major events like the Olympic Games.

Early Life and Music Studies

Carlos Miranda was born in Chile. He studied music there, learning how to compose with Gustavo Becerra-Schmidt and play the piano with Flora Guerra.

Later, he moved to Italy. He worked as an assistant on movies by famous directors like Franco Zeffirelli (for Romeo and Juliet) and Pier Paolo Pasolini. After that, he settled in London. He worked as a pianist for a cabaret singer and for dance teachers at The Dance Centre.

Studying at the Royal College of Music

Carlos Miranda received a special scholarship from the British Council. This allowed him to study at the Royal College of Music in London. He continued his piano studies with Harry Platts, composition with John Lambert, and conducting with Vernon Handley.

After finishing his studies, he joined the Rambert Dance Company from 1974 to 1978. He worked there as a pianist and also composed music for their dance shows and concerts.

Music for Dance and Theatre

In 1977, Carlos Miranda wrote the music for a long dance-theatre show called "Cruel Garden". This show was about the life of Federico García Lorca. Many dance companies in the UK, Germany, and the USA have performed it. A TV version of "Cruel Garden" won an award called the Prix Italia Music in 1982.

Miranda also worked closely with Lindsay Kemp, a famous dancer and director. He wrote music and helped create many dance-theatre shows that toured around the world. These shows included "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Mr. Punch's Pantomime", and "Cinderella, a Gothic Operetta".

Film Scores and Big Events

Carlos Miranda has composed music for several independent Spanish films. Some of these include Celestino Coronado’s "Hamlet" (1977) and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1984). He also scored Manuel Huerga's "Gaudì" (1988) and Félix Rotaeta's "The Pleasure of Killing" (1988).

Olympic Games and Expo Music

A very important moment in his career was in 1992. Miranda composed the music and conducted the Ciutat de Barcelona Orchestra for the Parade of Nations. This was during the opening ceremony of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. He also created the music for the official video of the Seville Expo '92.

In 1993, he conducted the Orquestra de Cambra Teatre Lliure. They performed his music for the ballet "El Jardiner" for a dance company. In 2004, he composed music for a multimedia dance show called "Glimpse" in Barcelona.

Acting Career

Besides his music, Carlos Miranda has also acted in several films. Some of his roles include movies like Velvet Goldmine (1998), The Feast of the Goat (2005), and Goya's Ghosts (2006). He also appeared in The Promise (2016).

Selected Film Appearances

• The Assassination of Trotsky (1972) – Sheldon Harte
• Chronicle of a Death Foretold (1987)
• A Show of Force (1990) – Thug
• Havana (1990) – Inspector No. 1
• Captain Ron (1992) – Pirate
• Velvet Goldmine (1998) – Pianist
• Duplo Exilio (2001) – INS Agent 1
• The Feast of the Goat (2005) – Antonio Imbert Barrera
• Los Reyes: La verdadera historia de Buster y El Camaleón (2014) – Coronel

Discography

Carlos Miranda's music has been released on several albums:

• Carlos Miranda "A Midsummer Night's Dream", The Lindsay Kemp Co. CD- Fonè Records
• Carlos Miranda "The Big Parade", The Lindsay Kemp Co. CD- Fonè Records
• Carlos Miranda "Cinderella, a gothic operetta" CD- Miranda Records
• "Chilean Music of the 20th Century, Volumes VII and VIII", Luis Carlos Miranda, pianist

Awards and Recognition

Carlos Miranda has received several awards for his work:

• "Cruel Garden" Special Award 1979, Belgrade International Theatre Festival – BITEF
• "Dancers" (film directed by John Chesworth, Derek Hart) Special Prize for Music, Krakow Film Festival 1979
• "A Midsumer night's Dream" Special Award 1981, Belgrade International Theatre Festival – BITEF
• "Cruel Garden" Prix Italia Music 1982

See also

In Spanish: Carlos Miranda para niños

• Carlos Miranda Interview, BBC Radio 3
• "Cruel Garden" in 50 Years in Dance
• René Amengual – Sonatina (1939), played by Luis Carlos Miranda, piano
• "Glimpse" Portfolio
• Barcelona 1992 Olympic Ceremonies
• Barcelona 1992 Olympics, Spanish Team Parade