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Cyril Ornadel | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1924-12-02)2 December 1924 |
| Died | 22 June 2011(2011-06-22) (aged 86) |
| Alma mater | Royal College of Music |
| Occupation(s) | Conductor,songwriter andcomposer |
Cyril Ornadel (2 December 1924 – 22 June 2011) was aBritishconductor,songwriter andcomposer, chiefly inmusical theatre.[1] He worked regularly withDavid Croft, the television writer, director and producer, as well asNorman Newell andHal Shaper. He was awarded the Gold Badge of Merit by theBritish Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for services to British Music and won a total of fourIvor Novello Awards.
Ornadel was born inLondon, England and studied at theRoyal College of Music.[1] During the 1950s, he was famous for conducting the orchestra for the hit TV showSunday Night at the London Palladium.[1] This followed as amusical director for a number of majorWest End shows, including the first London production ofMy Fair Lady, and at the London Palladium the hit showsThe Sound of Music andThe King and I starringYul Brynner.[1]
He composed several musicals of his own, includingPickwick (1963, lyrics byLeslie Bricusse), starringHarry Secombe, from which came the hit song "If I Ruled the World", which won anIvor Novello Award;[1]Great Expectations (1975) starringJohn Mills, both adapted fromCharles Dickens; andTreasure Island (1973) adapted fromRobert Louis Stevenson and starringBernard Miles andSpike Milligan.[1]Great Expectations andTreasure Island (both with lyrics byHal Shaper) were designated Best British Musical at the Ivor Novello Awards.
He also penned the song "Portrait of My Love" (lyrics byNorman Newell), a hit forMatt Monro in 1960,[1] which also won the 1960Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.[2] "At My Time of Life" fromGreat Expectations was recorded byBing Crosby in 1976.
Ornadel's contribution to music for television includes scores for the remake ofBrief Encounter (1974) starringRichard Burton andSophia Loren,Edward the Seventh (1975), which won aBAFTA, starringTimothy West as Edward VII, and the music for the Britishtelevision science-fiction seriesSapphire & Steel (1979). He also conducted music with theLondon Symphony Orchestra forThe Strauss Family, by the eponymous composers and was presented with a gold disc for sales.
A highlight of his career included conducting the London Symphony Orchestra atWembley Arena with music fromThe Strauss Family in 1973. His film work includedSome May Live (1967),Subterfuge (1968),Wedding Night (1970),Not Now Darling (1973), and manyPete Walker films includingMan of Violence (1969),Cool It Carol! (1970),Die Screaming, Marianne (1971),The Flesh and Blood Show (1972) andTiffany Jones (1973).[1]
Ornadel's autobiography,Reach for the Moon, was published by the Book Guild in 2007.
Ornadel died on 22 June 2011, aged 86.[3]
