Osvaldo Golijov facts for kids

Osvaldo Golijov (born December 5, 1960) is a talented composer from Argentina. He writes classical music and is also a music professor. He is especially known for his beautiful songs and music for orchestras.

About Osvaldo Golijov

Early Life and Education

Osvaldo Golijov grew up in La Plata, Argentina. His family came to Argentina from Romania and Ukraine. His mother taught piano, and his father was a doctor. Osvaldo learned to play the piano and studied how to compose music with a teacher named Gerardo Gandini.

In 1983, Golijov moved to Israel. There, he continued his music studies at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem. Three years later, he moved to the United States. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania and earned his PhD degree.

Teaching and Family Life

In 1991, Golijov became a professor at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts. He was named a special music professor there in 2007. He also held an important position at Carnegie Hall during the 2012–2013 concert season.

As of 2016, Golijov lives in Brookline, Massachusetts. He is married to author Leah Hager Cohen. He has three children from his first marriage.

Osvaldo Golijov's Music Career

Musical Influences

Golijov grew up listening to many different kinds of music. These included chamber music, traditional Jewish music like klezmer, and the exciting nuevo tango music of Ástor Piazzolla. His piece Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind was inspired by old Jewish writings.

Major Music Projects

In 1996, his work Oceana was performed for the first time at the Oregon Bach Festival. He also composed La Pasión según San Marcos (St. Mark's Passion) in 2000. This piece was part of a project to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the death of the famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach. In 2010, he wrote Sidereus for many American orchestras. This piece honored the famous scientist Galileo.

Golijov worked closely with soprano singer Dawn Upshaw for a long time. He called her his "muse," meaning she inspired him greatly. He often wrote music just for her. This included Three Songs for Soprano and Orchestra and his popular opera, Ainadamar, which premiered in 2003.

Film Scores and Chamber Music

Starting in 2000, Golijov began composing music for movies. He wrote soundtracks for films like The Man Who Cried, Youth Without Youth, Tetro, and Twixt. He also created music for smaller groups of instruments, known as chamber music. He wrote for famous groups like the Kronos Quartet and the St. Lawrence String Quartet.

His song cycle "Falling Out of Time" was inspired by a novel by an Israeli author. In November 2024, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performed a symphonic work by Golijov. This piece was developed from his soundtrack for Francis Ford Coppola's movie "Megalopolis."

Notable Compositions

Here are some of Osvaldo Golijov's most well-known musical works:

• Yiddishbbuk (1992): For a string quartet (four string instruments).
• The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind (1994): For a klezmer clarinet and string quartet.
• Oceana (1996): A cantata for a soloist, boys choir, chorus, electric guitars, and a smaller orchestra.
• La Pasión según San Marcos (St. Mark's Passion) (2000).
• Three Songs for Soprano and Orchestra (2001): One song from this set, Lúa Descolorida, was later used in La Pasión según San Marcos.
• Tenebrae (2002): For a soprano singer, clarinet, and string quartet.
• Ainadamar (2003): Golijov's first opera, with a story by David Henry Hwang.
• Ayre (2004): A group of songs for soprano and an ensemble, first performed by Dawn Upshaw.
• Azul (2006): For cello and orchestra, first performed by the famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
• She Was Here (2008): An orchestral version of four songs by Schubert.
• Sidereus (2010): For orchestra, commissioned by many orchestras.
• "Megalopolis" (2024): Premiered by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Awards and Recognition

Awards Received

Osvaldo Golijov has received many important awards for his music:

• Guggenheim Fellowship (1995)
• MacArthur Fellowship (2003)
• Musical America Composer of the Year (2006)
• Grammy Awards (2007): Two Grammy Awards for his opera Ainadamar – one for Best Opera Recording and one for Best Classical Contemporary Composition.
• Vilcek Prize in Music (2008)

Special Appointments

He has also been a composer-in-residence (meaning he worked closely with and wrote music for) at many famous music venues and festivals:

• Merkin Hall (New York) (1998)
• Los Angeles Philharmonic Music Alive Series (2001)
• Ravinia Festival (2002)
• Spoleto Festival USA (2002, 2011)
• Ojai Music Festival (2006)
• Mostly Mozart Festival (2007)
• Chicago Symphony Orchestra (2007–2010)
• Holland Festival (2008)
• Carnegie Hall, Debs Composer Chair (2012–2013)

Selected Discography

Here are some of the recordings of Osvaldo Golijov's music:

Film Soundtracks

• The Man Who Cried soundtrack
• Youth Without Youth soundtrack
• Tetro soundtrack
• Twixt soundtrack
• Megalopolis soundtrack

Voice, Chamber Music, and Orchestral Works

• Yiddishbbuk – nominated for a Grammy Award in 2003.
• Oceana
• Ayre – nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006.
• Ainadamar – won two Grammy Awards in 2007.
• La Pasión según San Marcos (The Passion according to St. Mark)
• The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind performed by the Kronos Quartet.
• Voices of Light, Lúa Descolorida sung by soprano Dawn Upshaw.
• Night Prayers, K'vakarat on a recording by the Kronos Quartet.
• Caravan arrangements for the Kronos Quartet.

See also

In Spanish: Osvaldo Golijov para niños