Sylvester Levay
Encyclopedia
Sylvester Levay is a Hungarian composer. He was born 16 May 1945 in Subotica
(Szabadka), in the North Bačka District
of Vojvodina
, Yugoslavia
(now Serbia
); his name is pronounced in English similarly to "lave-ah-ee."
in 1972, he met his writing partner, Michael Kunze
, with whom he has created many successful theatrical works. From 1980 to 2000 he lived in Hollywood and concentrated on composing film music. He currently divides his time between homes in Munich
, Vienna
and Los Angeles
.
Married for twenty-five years, he and his wife Monika have a daughter, Alice, and a son, Sylvester Jr.
and Katja Ebstein
. Between 1977 and 1980 he composed and produced for Elton John
, Silver Convention
, and others. From 1980 on, he worked with various Hollywood greats, including Michael Douglas
, Charlie Sheen
, George Lucas
and others.
A member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
(NARAS) and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), he has lectured on film composition at UCLA and USC
. He conducts and orchestrates all his own work, and plays the piano
, saxophone
, clarinet
, flute
, and organ
. Among his motion picture soundtracks, there's his brilliant work for Ivan Passer
's Creator
(1985). But his most famous and best-loved work is for the high-flying, mid 1980s US TV action series Airwolf
(1984–1986), the official 2CD soundtrack, Airwolf Themes
(produced by Mark J.Cairns) of which holds the record as the 'World's Most Expensive Television Soundtrack' selling for up to $981 on eBay.
Since the 1990s, Levay has dedicated himself to the musical. His musicals Marie Antoinette and Rebecca
are played in front of sold-out houses. In October 2010, Sylvester Worked with Xiah Junsu
of JYJ
also known as member of TVXQ
to prepare a musical concert - Kim Jun Su Musical Concert Levay with Friends, in Korea to be held at Seoul
's Olympic Gymnastics Arena
.
Subotica
Subotica is a city and municipality in northern Serbia, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina...
(Szabadka), in the North Bačka District
North Backa District
North Bačka District is a northern district of Serbia. It lies in the Bačka region in the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It has a population of 200,140...
of Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
(now Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
); his name is pronounced in English similarly to "lave-ah-ee."
Life and career
Sylvester Levay began his musical studies at the age of eight. Levay developed a taste for American music while growing up in Yugoslavia, eventually becoming a music arranger and lyricist. Upon his arrival in MunichMunich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in 1972, he met his writing partner, Michael Kunze
Michael Kunze (writer)
Michael Kunze is a German musical theater lyricist and librettist.He is best known for the hit musicals Elisabeth , Dance of the Vampires , Mozart! , and Rebecca ....
, with whom he has created many successful theatrical works. From 1980 to 2000 he lived in Hollywood and concentrated on composing film music. He currently divides his time between homes in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Married for twenty-five years, he and his wife Monika have a daughter, Alice, and a son, Sylvester Jr.
Work
At the age of fifteen, Sylvester won his first composition competition. In Munich he worked with Udo JürgensUdo Jürgens
Udo Jürgens is an Austrian composer and singer of popular music whose career spans over fifty years...
and Katja Ebstein
Katja Ebstein
Karin Witkiewicz, also known as Katja Ebstein, is a German singer. She was born in Girlachsdorf . She achieved success with songs such as Theater or Es war einmal ein Jäger. She was married to Christian Bruhn, who wrote many of her songs. She represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest...
. Between 1977 and 1980 he composed and produced for Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, Silver Convention
Silver Convention
Silver Convention was a German euro disco recording act of the 1970s. The group was originally named Silver Bird Convention, or Silver Bird.-Career:...
, and others. From 1980 on, he worked with various Hollywood greats, including Michael Douglas
Michael Douglas
Michael Kirk Douglas is an American actor and producer, primarily in movies and television. He has won three Golden Globes and two Academy Awards; first as producer of 1975's Best Picture, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and as Best Actor in 1987 for his role in Wall Street. Douglas received the...
, Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen
Carlos Irwin Estevez , better known by his stage name Charlie Sheen, is an American film and television actor. He is the youngest son of actor Martin Sheen....
, George Lucas
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
and others.
A member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its...
(NARAS) and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), he has lectured on film composition at UCLA and USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. He conducts and orchestrates all his own work, and plays the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, and organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
. Among his motion picture soundtracks, there's his brilliant work for Ivan Passer
Ivan Passer
Ivan Passer is a Czech-born film director and screenwriter.A significant figure in the Czech New Wave of the mid-1960s, Passer worked closely with Miloš Forman on many of his films, and directed his first feature in 1965...
's Creator
Creator (film)
Creator is a 1985 film directed by Ivan Passer, starring Peter O'Toole, Vincent Spano, Mariel Hemingway, and Virginia Madsen. It is based on a book of the same title by Jeremy Leven.-Plot:...
(1985). But his most famous and best-loved work is for the high-flying, mid 1980s US TV action series Airwolf
Airwolf
Airwolf is an American television series that ran from 1984 until 1987. The program centers on a high-tech military helicopter, code named Airwolf, and its crew as they undertake various missions, many involving espionage, with a Cold War theme....
(1984–1986), the official 2CD soundtrack, Airwolf Themes
Airwolf Themes
Airwolf Themes is a two-CD soundtrack album for the 1980s American action television series series Airwolf The program concerned a supersonic military helicopter, codenamed Airwolf, and her crew as they undertook various missions, many involving espionage, with a Cold War theme.The soundtrack was...
(produced by Mark J.Cairns) of which holds the record as the 'World's Most Expensive Television Soundtrack' selling for up to $981 on eBay.
Since the 1990s, Levay has dedicated himself to the musical. His musicals Marie Antoinette and Rebecca
Rebecca (musical)
Rebecca is a German-language musical based on the novel of the same name by Daphne du Maurier. It was written by Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay , the authors of the musicals Elisabeth, Mozart! and Marie Antoinette. The plot, which adheres closely to the original novel, revolves around Maxim...
are played in front of sold-out houses. In October 2010, Sylvester Worked with Xiah Junsu
Xiah
Kim Junsu , also known by his stage name Xiah , is a South Korean singer-songwriter, composer and occasional actor...
of JYJ
JYJ
JYJ is a three-member pop group, formed by three members of the South Korean boyband TVXQ: Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu. Their group name is taken from the first letters of each members' names....
also known as member of TVXQ
TVXQ
TVXQ, an acronym for Tong Vfang Xien Qi , is a South Korean pop group formed in 2003 under SM Entertainment. In South Korea they are known as Dong Bang Shin Ki , often abbreviated by international fans as DBSK; they were later introduced in Japan as Tohoshinki under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone...
to prepare a musical concert - Kim Jun Su Musical Concert Levay with Friends, in Korea to be held at Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
's Olympic Gymnastics Arena
Olympic Gymnastics Arena
The Olympic Gymnastics Arena is an indoor sports arena, located at the Olympic Park, in Seoul, South Korea. The capacity of the arena is 14,730 and was constructed between 31 August 1984 and 30 April 1986, to host gymnastics at the 1988 Summer Olympics....
.
Compositions (selection)
- "Fly, Robin, FlyFly, Robin, Fly"Fly, Robin, Fly" is a 1975 record by the German group Silver Convention. The song was released as a single from their 1975 album Save Me. In the United States, it rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1975, staying there for three weeks. The single also was #1 on the soul singles chart...
" (reached no. 1 in the US Charts) (1975) - Scarface OSTScarface (soundtrack)Scarface is the soundtrack to the 1983 film of the same name. Released the same year as the film, the album featured music created exclusively for the film by Giorgio Moroder, who produced all of the tracks...
(as arranger) (1983) - My Man AdamMy Man Adam-Plot:High schooler Adam Swit constantly daydreams about the same beautiful girl. Soon new student Sabrina McKay shows up who's identical to the girl of his dreams. Struggling to win her over, he doesn't do so well until a complex conspiracy throws them both into potential peril.-Principal cast:...
(1986) - AirwolfAirwolfAirwolf is an American television series that ran from 1984 until 1987. The program centers on a high-tech military helicopter, code named Airwolf, and its crew as they undertake various missions, many involving espionage, with a Cold War theme....
(1984–1986) - BambiBambiBambi is a 1942 American animated film directed by David Hand , produced by Walt Disney and based on the book Bambi, A Life in the Woods by Austrian author Felix Salten...
- Cobra (1986 film)
- Navy SEALsNavy SEALs (film)Navy SEALs is a 1990 action film, directed by Lewis Teague, written by Chuck Pfarrer and Gary Goldman, and produced by Brenda Feigen and Bernard Williams with consultant William Bradley.-Plot:...
(1990) - Hot Shots!Hot Shots!Hot Shots! is a 1991 comedy spoof film starring Charlie Sheen, Cary Elwes, Valeria Golino, Lloyd Bridges, Kevin Dunn, Jon Cryer and Ryan Stiles . It was directed by Jim Abrahams, co-director of Airplane! , and was written by Abrahams and Pat Proft...
(1991) - Medicopter 117 (1998–2006)
- Hexen, Hexen (musical) (1990)
- Elisabeth (Musical)Elisabeth (musical)Elisabeth is a Viennese, German-language musical commissioned by the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien , with book/lyrics by Michael Kunze and music by Sylvester Levay. It portrays the life and death of the Empress consort of Austria, Elisabeth of Bavaria, wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I...
(1992, premiered at Theater an der WienTheater an der WienThe Theater an der Wien is a historic theatre on the Left Wienzeile in the Mariahilf district of Vienna. Completed in 1801, it has seen the premieres of many celebrated works of theatre, opera, and symphonic music...
) - Mozart!Mozart!Mozart! is an Austrian musical, originally written in German. The original book and lyrics were written by Michael Kunze and the music and arrangements were composed by Sylvester Levay. The show is a new imagining of the struggles of the famous composer....
(Musical) (1999, premiered at Theater an der WienTheater an der WienThe Theater an der Wien is a historic theatre on the Left Wienzeile in the Mariahilf district of Vienna. Completed in 1801, it has seen the premieres of many celebrated works of theatre, opera, and symphonic music...
) - Rebecca (musical)Rebecca (musical)Rebecca is a German-language musical based on the novel of the same name by Daphne du Maurier. It was written by Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay , the authors of the musicals Elisabeth, Mozart! and Marie Antoinette. The plot, which adheres closely to the original novel, revolves around Maxim...
(2006, premiered at Raimundtheater) - Marie Antoinette (musical)Marie Antoinette (musical)Marie Antoinette is a stage musical with music by Sylvester Levay and lyrics by Michael Kunze, the authors of Elisabeth, Mozart! and Rebecca. The Libretto was written in English and then translated into Japanese. The premiere took place on November 1, 2006 in Tokyo, Japan at the Imperial Garden...
(2006, premiered at Imperial Garden TheaterImperial Garden TheaterThe is a Japanese theater located in Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan operated by Toho. Opened in 1911 as the first Western-style theater in Japan, it stages a varied program of musicals and operas.-External links:...
))
Awards
- Grammy Award for Fly, Robin, Fly, words by Michael KunzeMichael Kunze (writer)Michael Kunze is a German musical theater lyricist and librettist.He is best known for the hit musicals Elisabeth , Dance of the Vampires , Mozart! , and Rebecca ....
(1975) - Goldene StimmgabelGoldene StimmgabelThe Goldene Stimmgabel is an annual prize awarded within the German music scene.The prizes are awarded according to the number of records sold from October of the previous year to June of the year of the award, as determined by Media Control...
(2002) - Goldene EuropaGoldene EuropaThe Goldene Europa award is the oldest German Television award for artists and entertainers. It was awarded from 1968 to 2003. In the years 1989 and 2001, there were no ceremonies...
(2002)
External links
- "Airwolf Themes 2CD" - more info on his world record-breaking soundtrack