Michel Legrand

Michel Legrand was a French composer, arranger, pianist, and conductor celebrated for his lush, romantic melodies and genre-spanning versatility. Born in Paris, he studied at the Paris Conservatory under the legendary Nadia Boulanger, excelling in composition, orchestration, and performance.

Legrand first gained fame in the 1950s with jazz-infused recordings and went on to work with prominent jazz musicians including Miles Davis and John Coltrane. He became internationally renowned for his film scores, notably The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Young Girls of Rochefort, The Thomas Crown Affair, and Summer of ’42.

His career brought him three Academy Awards and five Grammy Awards, with his song “The Windmills of Your Mind” becoming an enduring standard. He was equally at home in jazz, pop, classical, and musical theatre, demonstrating a rare breadth of musical skill.

In theatre, Legrand collaborated with Didier Van Cauwelaert on the French musical Le Passe-Muraille, later adapted into the Broadway production Amour. His stage work was marked by the same lyrical beauty and emotional richness as his film compositions.

Legrand continued composing and performing until his death in 2019, leaving behind a body of work that bridged artistic worlds and touched audiences across the globe.