Vangelis

He also scored the films “Blade Runner” and “Missing” and Carl Sagan's PBS series “Cosmos.”

His music connected the sacred space with outer space — a quality that made it a natural fit for the movies, where many of his fellow “cosmic synth” artists migrated. In 2016, he released a now-retro synth album, “Rosetta,” inspired by the European Space Agency’s probe mission of the same name. I explained he could kill someone, and he just laughed, saying he was Greek. ‘Don’t worry, Jonny.’ ” In 1992, Vangelis teamed up again with Scott for the Columbus epic “1492: Conquest of Paradise.” Its infectious anthems blended electronics, choir and primitive instruments, and the soundtrack conquered the European pop charts. He received his first Hammond organ as a teenager and painted it gold. “I won’t even rerecord a thing if I play a bum note,” he told Beat Instrumental in 1975. While others were experimenting with modular, sequenced rhythms, Vangelis played his synthesizers like a church organ, drenching big melodies in massive, artificial reverb to create the feeling of sound in a cathedral. He provided music for high-profile special occasions, including for the Olympic Games in 2000 and 2004. “Whether you like this opulent, symphonic sound or not, the melodies catch — and if you’ve ever tried anything in music, you know how hard that is.” He moved to Paris after the 1967 military coup in Greece and co-founded the progressive rock band Aphrodite’s Child, which released three successful albums that collectively sold more than 20 million copies in Europe. Its theme remains one of the most recognizable — and parodied — in film music history. It became an exemplar in the genre and continued to influence bands and film composers decades later.

Greek media reports Vangelis — the Oscar-winning composer who wrote the unforgettable Academy Award-winning score for the film Chariots of Fire — has died ...

His interest in science — including the physics of music and sound — and space exploration led to compositions linked with major NASA and European Space Agency projects. It is one of the most instantly recognisable musical themes in cinema — and its standing in popular culture has only been confirmed by the host of spoofs it has sired. Vangelis, the Greek electronic composer who wrote the unforgettable Academy Award-winning score for the film Chariots of Fire and music for dozens of other movies, documentaries and TV series, has died at 79.

Vangelis, the Greek composer whose rousing electronic theme music for the Oscar-winning Chariots of Fire was one of...

The success of Chariots of Fire overshadowed his other scores but he wrote the music for a number of major films including Missing, directed by his compatriot Costa-Gavras, and Ridley Scott's futuristic thriller Blade Runner. It was there that he wrote the score for Chariots of Fire, the story of the triumph of a group of British runners at the 1924 Olympic Games. Despite enjoying success in the European "prog rock" scene of the early 1970s, he was uncomfortable with the expectations on a commercial performing artist and largely retreated to the recording studio he created for himself in London.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Vangelis, the Greece-born electronic composer who wrote the Academy Award-winning score for the film “Chariots of Fire” and music for ...

“Decca had the pleasure of partnering with Vangelis and his team for his past three albums and we will miss him enormously. “Vangelis created music of extraordinary originality and power, and provided the soundtrack to so many of our lives,” it said. When British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking died in 2018, Vangelis composed a musical tribute for his interment that the ESA broadcast into space. The signature piece is one of the hardest-to-forget movie tunes worldwide — and has also served as the musical background to endless slow-motion parodies. It’s one of the most instantly recognizable musical themes in cinema — and its standing in popular culture has only been confirmed by the host of spoofs it has sired. He was fascinated by space exploration and wrote music for celestial bodies, but said he never sought stardom himself.

Vangelis, the Greek composer whose rousing electronic theme music for the Oscar-winning Chariots of Fire was one of...

The success of Chariots of Fire overshadowed his other scores but he wrote the music for a number of major films including Missing, directed by his compatriot Costa-Gavras, and Ridley Scott's futuristic thriller Blade Runner. It was there that he wrote the score for Chariots of Fire, the story of the triumph of a group of British runners at the 1924 Olympic Games. Despite enjoying success in the European "prog rock" scene of the early 1970s, he was uncomfortable with the expectations on a commercial performing artist and largely retreated to the recording studio he created for himself in London.

Vangelis, the Greek composer whose rousing electronic theme music for the Oscar-winning Chariots of Fire was one of...

The success of Chariots of Fire overshadowed his other scores but he wrote the music for a number of major films including Missing, directed by his compatriot Costa-Gavras, and Ridley Scott's futuristic thriller Blade Runner. It was there that he wrote the score for Chariots of Fire, the story of the triumph of a group of British runners at the 1924 Olympic Games. Despite enjoying success in the European "prog rock" scene of the early 1970s, he was uncomfortable with the expectations on a commercial performing artist and largely retreated to the recording studio he created for himself in London.

According to several Greek media outlets, Vangelis died of COVID-19 in France where he lived part-time, as well as in London and Athens.

"Success is sweet and treacherous," the lion-maned composer told the Observer newspaper in 2012. "When I saw some footage, I understood that this is the future. But this is where we’re going," he said. Vangelis and Roussos both moved on to successful solo careers. Or you might not sell anything feeling very happy," he said. "I've never studied music," he told Greek magazine Periodiko in 1988, in which he also bemoaned growing "exploitation" by studios and the media.

Vangelis, the Greek musician who won the Oscar for his 'Chariots of Fire' score and whose other credits included 'Blade Runner,' has died.

His choral symphony “Mythodea” was adopted by NASA as the theme for its 2001 Mars Odyssey mission and he penned original music for the European Space Agency’s 2014 expedition to Comet 67P. After relocating to Paris, In 1968 he formed the progressive-rock quartet Aphrodite’s Child with a group of Greek expatriots, including Demis Roussos. The group enjoyed chart success in several European countries, particularly the single “Rain and Tear.” The Mel GIbson remake of “The Bounty” followed in 1984. But it was his music for the 1981 film “Chariots of Fire” that brought him worldwide fame. 1 on the Billboard charts and was nominated for a Record of the Year Grammy. The self-taught musician enjoyed a long career in European pop music before the magical colors and textures of his 1970s solo albums brought him to the attention of film and TV producers.

Oscar-winning composer was a musical pioneer, renowned for his experimentation with electronic synthesizers.

“Success is sweet and treacherous,” the composer told Britain’s Observer newspaper in 2012. After studying painting at the Athens School of Fine Arts, Vangelis made his start with local Greek rock bands. He performed his first piano concert at the age of six. Over his more than 50-year career, Vangelis was renowned for his musical experimentation and eclectic influences. Or you might not sell anything feeling very happy,” he said. He also had homes in London and Athens.

Vangelis, the Greek composer whose rousing electronic theme music for the Oscar-winning Chariots of Fire was one of...

The success of Chariots of Fire overshadowed his other scores but he wrote the music for a number of major films including Missing, directed by his compatriot Costa-Gavras, and Ridley Scott's futuristic thriller Blade Runner. It was there that he wrote the score for Chariots of Fire, the story of the triumph of a group of British runners at the 1924 Olympic Games. Despite enjoying success in the European "prog rock" scene of the early 1970s, he was uncomfortable with the expectations on a commercial performing artist and largely retreated to the recording studio he created for himself in London.

Blade Runner composer Vangelis, born Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou, has died at 79. His assistant confirmed the death in a Paris hospital on late ...

“Music is science more than art, and it is the main code of the universe.” Vangelis, the Oscar-winning Greek composer and progressive rocker, has died at the age of 79. He died on the evening of May 17, his assistant Lefteris Zermas confirmed.

The Greek star's Oscar-winning film scores and electronic works created "a new musical landscape".

Its presidents Tom Lewis and Laura Monks said: "The world has lost a genius. He added: "It is also hard to understand how groundbreaking Chariots of Fire was. In addition to Blade Runner, the composer was nominated for Baftas for his scores for Missing and Chariots of Fire. Fellow composer Bear McCreary wrote that he was "a true musical pioneer", saying: "Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner were among the most innovative and influential scores in the history of the medium." Vangelis was "one of my heroes" and "just a beautiful person", Van Buuren wrote on Twitter, adding: "I still listen to his albums a lot." Greek composer Vangelis, who was known for his celebrated film themes for Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner, has died at the age of 79.

Vangelis, the legendary Greek composer behind the unforgettable score for Chariots of Fire has died at the age of 79.

“It’s much quicker, there’s no agonising, and if I make a mistake then I’m the only one who can be blamed. “I don’t do any demos. For all that is known about his career and composition, very little is known about his personal life – Vangelis reportedly bought a house at the foot of the Acropolis that was nearly demolished in 2007 because the government said it spoiled the view from a new museum. Stream more entertainment news live & on demand with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. His “private office” announced the news on his Elsewhere fan page, and the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his condolences for the loss of the “electronic sound trailblazer”. New to Flash? Try 1 month free.

Vangelis, the Greek composer whose rousing electronic theme music for the Oscar-winning Chariots of Fire was one of...

The success of Chariots of Fire overshadowed his other scores but he wrote the music for a number of major films including Missing, directed by his compatriot Costa-Gavras, and Ridley Scott's futuristic thriller Blade Runner. It was there that he wrote the score for Chariots of Fire, the story of the triumph of a group of British runners at the 1924 Olympic Games. Despite enjoying success in the European "prog rock" scene of the early 1970s, he was uncomfortable with the expectations on a commercial performing artist and largely retreated to the recording studio he created for himself in London.