He was born in Bilbao in 1930. He started studying music in Hondarribia and then in Madrid, where he moved to in 1939. Most of his music education was self-taught, although he received advice from Maurice Ohana, Max Deutsch and other maestros. He studied Law in Madrid and graduated in 1952. In 1954, the BBC in London premiered his "Coral eucarístico", and his "Quinteto para cuerda y clarinete" was awarded a prize at the Samuel Ros competition. Since then he has developed a prolific career: He has composed more than 100 pieces and started several outstanding contemporary music groups, such as Tiempo y música, and Alea. He has also collaborated with prestigious film directors, such as Carlos Saura and Víctor Erice. He founded the Spanish Electroacoustic Laboratory. He died in Madrid in 2021.
Awards
Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts (1986)
National Music Award (1991)
Madrid Region Culture Award (2001)
Guerrero Foundation Music Prize (2004)
Tomás Luis de Vitoria Award (2009)
Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale (2020)
-
Kiu
With this opera, based on the farce "Zero Temperature" by the playwright Alfonso Vallejo, the composer Luis de Pablo opened up new paths for Spanish opera.
More info -
The Spirit of the Beehive (music)
Employing the Frankenstein myth, this film is a poetic depiction of childhood, dreams and fear.
More info -
The Search (music)
An adaptation of a novel with the same title by Pío Baroja. It is one of the most outstanding Spanish films of the 1960s.
More info -
The Hunt (music)
A significant piece from 1960s Spanish cinema. It is a metaphor for the wounds of the Civil War, and won the Golden Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival.
More info
Other highlighted works
- Peppermint Frappé
- La Señorita Cristina
- Notturnino
