Harry Rabinowitz

Harry Rabinowitz was born on March 26, 1916. He was a British conductor and composer of film and television music. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, he was educated at the University of the Witwatersrand and at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

From Aretha to the Beatles, RoboCop to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s original London production of Cats, Chariots of Fire to Queen Elizabeth awarding him an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for outstanding service in music. Harry Rabinowitz’s remarkable musical career and love of adventure had earned him world renown, good fortune and a life that spanned a century.

Mr. Rabinowitz is best remembered for conducting the scores to more than 60 feature films – including ‘Chariots of Fire’, ‘Shirley Valentine’, 'The English Patient’, ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ and ‘Cold Mountain’.

He was also the first conductor of the hit Andrew Lloyd Webber musical ‘Cats’.

He made regular appearances on TV and radio in the 1950s and '60s, working with the likes of Stanley Holloway, Terry-Thomas, and The Goons.

He went on to work repeatedly with the British director Anthony Minghella.

He was a conductor on BBC Radio and went on to become head of music at BBC TV Light Entertainment, before moving to London Weekend Television in 1968. He remained there until 1977 - the year he became an MBE.

He was Bafta nominated in 1984 for the music he composed for Reilly: Ace of Spies and received the Gold Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors (Basca) two years later.

Rabinowitz's many conducting credits included several productions from the Merchant Ivory team, among them Maurice, Howards End, and The Remains of the Day. Minghella, with whom the conductor worked on The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley and Cold Mountain, described him as "the UK's best-kept secret".

Rabinowitz attributed his success to his learning to read music "very quickly and very accurately" at an early age. "A score which would normally take somebody 20 minutes to put right... I reckon I can do it in seven-and-a-half minutes," he told the BBC's Kirsty Young.

Rabinowitz had been due to take part in a concert with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican in London in November of 2016 to mark both his birthday and his long career. However, he died just five months before the scheduled event. The LSO said it was "devastated not to have the chance to celebrate his magnificent contribution".

Harry Rabinowitz has passed away at his house in France, on June 22, 2016 – aged 100.

Live Wire! Radio

Harry Rabinowitz, Daniel H. Wilson, musical guest The Everybodyfields

This episode was originally taped at a live show on February 15, 2008

To listen to the entire show, click HERE.

BBC Radio 4 "Desert Island Discs" with Kirsty Young.

Harry Rabinowitz -- Jun 27, 2015

For a list of movies, television programs, and radio programs featuring Harry Rabinowitz, visit his profile @ IMDb.