Soundtrack compositions and nominations by Alberto Iglesias

The composer born in San Sebastián, Alberto Iglesias, is the author of the music for a large number of Spanish and foreign films, many of them directed by the La Mancha filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar. Among the abundant amount of national and international recognition that he has obtained throughout his career, his nominations for the Oscar Awards on four occasions and the countless nominations for the Goya Awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Spain, in addition to the awards obtained

From Film Symphony Orchestra we want congratulate the composer on his 66th birthday, held on October 21 and, in addition, review the compositions of the soundtracks and nominations of Alberto Iglesias.

Who is Alberto Iglesias?

This Basque musician is a leading Spanish musician in film composition, who has had the opportunity to work in hollywood, in addition to being the first composer from our country to be nominated for an Academy Award. Since its beginnings in the eighties, it has composed more than thirty soundtracks directed by the most prestigious directors, such as Pedro Almodóvar, Oliver Stone or Ridley Scott. In addition, he is the brother of the sculptor and engraver Cristina Iglesias, whose works are distributed in museums and public spaces in several countries.

There are more than twenty-five years that endorse the professional collaboration of Alberto Iglesias and Pedro Almodóvar, one of the most solid and stimulating creative relationships in contemporary cinema. Between the two of them they have created a personal method of film-musical narration, which is transfigured to serve the needs of each production. A collaboration that recalls those mythical couples of classic cinema such as that of Herrmann with Hitchcock or that of Rota with Fellini.

On the other hand, Almodóvar's main composer has been recognized for "his extraordinary career" as an Honoris Causa Doctor by Berklee Valencia, the prestigious music school with a campus in the capital of Turia.

Musical style of Alberto Iglesias

Alberto Iglesias' musical training, which includes studies in piano, composition, counterpoint and electronic music, has led him to configure an eclectic personal style, with a wide ability to adapt to any artistic terrain, but very marked by post-romanticism, apparently dense, but with very suggestive and evocative melodic lines.

Precisely, this style has led it to develop in the field of ballet, in which it is necessary to speak of its close collaboration with choreographer Nacho Duato, and his National Dance Company, for whom he has composed and produced the pieces 'Cautiva', 'Tabulae', 'Cero sobre cero' and 'Self'.

How many awards does Alberto Iglesias have?

As we have pointed out previously, we talk about the first Spanish composer nominated for the Academy's Oscar. Likewise, he has obtained the Medal of the Circle of Cinematographic Writers on six occasions, for the films Talk to her, I give you my eyes, Come back, Also the rain, Who will sing to you and Pain and Glory. He has also been nominated five other times for Bad education, Che, the Argentine; Broken hugs, Maixabel  and Parallel mothers.

In the same way, he has obtained the award in the World Soundtrack Awards on two occasions for The loyal gardener, with the award for Best Original Score of the Year and Best Composer of the Year. for the movies Bad Education and  kites in the sky, was nominated for these awards as Best Composer of the Year.

His international fame has also led him to be nominated four times for the Oscar Award, by The Constant Gardener, Kites in the Sky, The Mole and Parallel mothers.

But where Alberto Iglesias has forged his legend at the level of recognition, has been at the Goya awards, where he has won the statuette for Best Original Music eleven times. He has also been nominated seven more times. The awards were won for the films The red squirrel, Earth, The lovers of the polar circle, All about my mother, Lucía and sex, Talk to her, Return, Broken hugs, Also the rain, The skin I live in and Pain and Glory in 2019.

The best soundtracks directed by Alberto Iglesias

If we talk about this composer, it is notable to remember his first soundtrack, made in 1983 at the age of 28. It's about the title The conquest of Albania, which already marked what would become his style, with melodic compositions of great sweetness.

Among his notable works we also find the original soundtrack of Exodus: Gods and kings, from famed director Ridley Scott and with stars like Christian Bale and Joel Edgerton. This piece faced a situation of certain compromise, given that we are talking about a 'remake' and more, knowing that the original was a great production. But the musician emerged victorious from the challenge with this great symphonic work full of strength and dignity. A score that transmits tenderness, majesty and life.

The original soundtrack of tremulous flesh, a film directed by Almodóvar and starring Javier Bardem and Francesca Neri. A delicious combination of piano, string instruments and orchestra, which accompany each other with brilliant elegance in a calm and melancholic melody. Some critics point out that it could well be confused with a classical symphony.

Another of his unforgettable soundtracks Its the Broken Embraces, also with Pedro Almodóvar. In addition to Iglesias' work, it allows you to listen to songs from different genres, such as Blindly by Miguel Poveda who moves in flamenco, or Vitamin C by Cat Power, a rock group from the 70s. But the composer's flamenco piano notes allow the director to place us in our country, in a current era. On the other hand, the orchestra recalls memories, nostalgia and distrust in a very sad composition.

With The Skin I Live In Another masterpiece of sheet music was born, around this unforgettable collaboration. In principle, it could appear confusing and unstructured, an opening of unclosed and unconnected themes, which instead of concretizing and explaining, turns out to be inconcrete and poorly explanatory. But that is its main asset, chaos and disorder, in a maneuver of confusion that makes the viewer tense, at the same time that it gives them an overwhelming feeling of insecurity. The musical theme is not a character theme in the style of John Williams, but rather his emotional impulses, his anger.

Lastly, regarding the best soundtracks by Alberto Iglesias We have to consider The loyal gardener, a film by Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles, based on the novel by John Le Carré. Justin Death It is one of the best-known songs of this production and is configured almost like a requiem, with a clarinet and a guitar that seem to mark the path to the grave.

Fernando Lara, president of the jury and general director of the ICAA in 2007, when Alberto Iglesias received the National Cinematography Award, awarded by the Institute of Cinematography and the Arts Audiovisuals, said that “his professional career is full of inspiration, and animated by a constant search for new and stimulating expressive forms in the composition of music for film.” For this reason, we can consider him as one of the great Spanish references in music for cinema.

Thus, we want to encourage you to enjoy the most exciting soundtracks in cinema, with the Film Symphony Orchestra, which is now immersed in the krypton tour. This way, you can have fun and be passionate about the greatest film composers, including our own Alberto Iglesias.