Benjamin Wallfisch

1.1. Birth and family background

Benjamin Mark Lasker Wallfisch was born on 7 August 1979, in London, England. He is the eldest of three children born to Elizabeth Wallfisch (née Hunt), an Australian Baroque violinist, and Raphael Wallfisch, a prominent British cellist. Wallfisch's paternal grandparents were Peter Wallfisch, a renowned pianist, and Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, a distinguished cellist. Anita Lasker-Wallfisch is notable as a Holocaust survivor and a former member of the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz, where her musical talent as a cello player helped save her from extermination. The Wallfisch family has a German-Jewish heritage, emigrating from the city of Breslau, Germany, which is now Wrocław, Poland. His great-grandfather was the celebrated conductor Albert Coates.

1.2. Musical training

Wallfisch began his musical journey at an early age, starting piano lessons at five years old and taking up conducting at six. He pursued his formal musical education at several prestigious institutions in the United Kingdom. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Royal Northern College of Music, and the University of Manchester. Following his graduation, Wallfisch began actively working as a conductor both within the UK and internationally.

2.1. Early career and influences

Wallfisch made his debut as a film music composer in 2004. Early in his career, he became associated with Hans Zimmer's acclaimed production company, Remote Control Productions, which served as a significant platform for his development and collaborations in the film music industry.

2.2. Film scoring

Wallfisch has amassed an extensive filmography as a film composer, contributing to over 50 feature films. He has frequently collaborated with notable directors, including Andy Muschietti on It, It Chapter Two, and The Flash; David F. Sandberg on Lights Out, Annabelle: Creation, and Shazam!; Leigh Whannell on The Invisible Man; Denis Villeneuve on Blade Runner 2049; and Theodore Melfi on Hidden Figures and The Starling.

His compositional style demonstrates remarkable versatility across various genres. For instance, he is recognized for his work on horror films such as Lights Out, Annabelle: Creation, It, It Chapter Two, and The Invisible Man, often crafting scores that enhance suspense and emotional depth. In the realm of science fiction, his co-composition with Hans Zimmer for Blade Runner 2049 garnered critical acclaim for its immersive and atmospheric soundscapes, which replaced previous composer Jóhann Jóhannsson and incorporated themes by Vangelis. He also composed the score for Simon McQuoid's Mortal Kombat for New Line Cinema and Warner Bros.. Other projects include Neil Marshall's Hellboy and Gore Verbinski's A Cure for Wellness. He also contributed music based on Edward Elgar's "Enigma Variations" for Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk. His scoring work also includes James Moll's short film Auschwitz, James Marsh's King of Thieves, and Steven Knight's Serenity.

Wallfisch has frequently collaborated with other prominent composers. His work on Hidden Figures involved a joint effort with Pharrell Williams and Hans Zimmer. He also contributed additional music to films scored by Hans Zimmer, such as 12 Years a Slave and The Little Prince, and with Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL on Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Most recently, he co-composed the score for Kraven the Hunter with Evgueni Galperine and Sacha Galperine.

2.3. Concerts and recordings

Beyond film scoring, Wallfisch maintains an active career as a conductor and recording artist. He has released 25 albums and has conducted over 100 live concerts worldwide. He has led major orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. His performances have taken place at renowned venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, the Sydney Opera House, and the Royal Festival Hall.

Wallfisch has collaborated and performed his music with internationally acclaimed artists like Lang Lang, Herbie Hancock, and Yuja Wang. He has also collaborated with Pharrell Williams on three occasions, including a live performance at the 2015 Grammy Awards. Furthermore, he was responsible for arranging Adele's performance of George Michael's "Fastlove" at the 2017 Grammy Awards.

2.4. Professional affiliations

Benjamin Wallfisch is a member of several prestigious professional organizations within the arts and film industries. He has been a member of the BAFTA Academy since 2009. In 2014, he was appointed an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music. In 2017, he received an invitation to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

3.1. Film

Benjamin Wallfisch's film contributions are categorized by his role in the score's composition.

3.2. Television

3.3. Theatre

5.1. Awards and nominations

Wallfisch has been recognized with nominations for several prestigious awards, including:

• A Golden Globe Award nomination for Hidden Figures (shared with Pharrell Williams and Hans Zimmer) at the 74th Golden Globe Awards.
• A BAFTA Award for Best Film Music nomination for Blade Runner 2049.
• Two Grammy Award nominations: one for Hidden Figures (shared with Pharrell Williams and Hans Zimmer) and another for Blade Runner 2049.
• Two Emmy Awards nominations.
• Two consecutive nominations for Film Composer of the Year at the World Soundtrack Awards in 2019 and 2020.
• A Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Score nomination for Blade Runner 2049.
• Nominations for the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, including Best Original Song for Hammer of the Gods and Best Original Score in a Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Film for Blade Runner 2049, and Best Original Score in a Horror Film for The Invisible Man.
• A Robert Award for Best Score nomination for Dear Wendy.
• A Black Reel Award for Outstanding Original Score nomination for Hidden Figures.

5.2. Critical reception and impact

Wallfisch's work has been widely praised for its versatility and emotional depth. His ability to craft distinctive scores across diverse genres, from large-scale science fiction epics like Blade Runner 2049 to psychological thrillers such as The Invisible Man and family dramas like Hidden Figures, has earned him a reputation as one of the leading composers in Hollywood.

His commercial success is underscored by the collective box office revenue of the films he has scored, which totals over 2.50 B USD worldwide. This impressive financial contribution led Variety to feature him in their "Billion Dollar Composer" series in 2019, acknowledging his significant economic impact on the film industry. Critics often highlight his skill in creating memorable themes and his innovative use of instrumentation and orchestral techniques to enhance narrative and visual storytelling. His collaborations with established industry figures, particularly Hans Zimmer and Pharrell Williams, further demonstrate his standing and influence within the highly competitive field of film music.