Claude-Michel Schonberg

Biography

A musical theatre composer, record producer, actor, singer, Schönberg was born in France to Hungarian Jewish parents, who saw by the time he was seven that he was in love with opera. He is best known for his achievements in the musical theatre, where he has collaborated fruitfully with Alain Boublil, on The Pirate Queen (2006), Les Miserables (1980), and Miss Saigon (1989) among others. In 1989, the London production of Miss Saigon broke advance-ticket sales records, earning $24 million before its premiere. In New York, that show would be nominated for ten Tony awards. It won three. Schönberg is inspired by litterateurs Alexander Dumas, Victor Hugo, Morgan Llywelyn and opera composers Giacomo Puccini and Michel Jean Legrand. He has said that he wants the audience to forget the characters on stage and to consider what is larger than life. He has been married twice and has three children.