Jewish composer and conductor Harry Rabinowitz, who conducted the scores for more than 60 films, including Chariots of Fire, died on Wednesday in France, aged 100.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, one of Rabinowitz’s first professional music gigs was as conductor of the BBC Revue Orchestra in 1953.
He went on to become music director for BBC Television Light Entertainment and head of music for London Weekend Television.
Rabinowitz will be best remembered for conducting the scores for more than 60 films, including Chariots of Fire, The Remains of the Day, The English Patient, Lord of the Flies, The Talented Mr. Ripley and Cold Mountain. He also conducted the original 1979 TV premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Tell Me on a Sunday and was the first conductor of the hit musical Cats.
He also composed music for television including The Frost Report, I, Claudius, The Agatha Christie Hour and Reilly, Ace of Spies.
