Jorge Arriagada(1943-2024)

One of the most prolific and versatile score composers in the history of contemporary cinema, known for his essential contribution to the films of Chilean director Raúl Ruiz. Their French debut Colloque de chiens (1977) won a Cesar for best short film, launching them as what has become the most productive and artistically creative duo in Latin American cinema history. Arriagada is a musical descendant of Arnold Schönberg. He studied composition and orchestral conduction at the National Music Conservatory in Santiago, Chile, subsequently obtaining a scholarship from the French Government to study expressionism with Schönberg's friend and student, Max Deutsch in Paris. Other relevant teachers were Olivier Messiaen in composition and Pierre Boulez in orchestra conduction. In 1972 he was awarded with a fellowship by the Guggenheim Foundation in New York, due to his contribution in the field of electronic music. Through more than 100 films, Jorge Arriagada has given proof of great virtuosity, exploring all possible genres and styles: classic, contemporary, folk music, jazz and tango, among others. Memorable scores include Silver Bear award winning films like Généalogies d'un crime (1997) and Jesse (1998). Recent full orchestral scores include the films Klimt (2006) and Le temps retrouvé, d'après l'oeuvre de Marcel Proust (1999), the later based on Marcel Proust's famous literary work. Jorge Arriagada was the first composer to make a musical interpretation of Proust's imaginary "Sonate de Vinteuil", for this particular film. He has also contributed with scores for the films of directors Miguel Littin and Olivier Assayas, as well as for the productions of Nouvelle Vague pioneer, producer-director Barbet Schroeder.