Max Richter, the German-born British composer, has received his first Oscar nomination for his score for the film Hamnet. The nomination marks a milestone for the 60-year-old musician, who has long been a prominent figure in contemporary classical music.
Richter’s career has been defined by his ability to cross the divide between high and low art. Classically trained but inspired by electronic and punk music, he has collaborated with acts such as Future Sound of London and Roni Size. His 2015 album Sleep recently became the first classical record to surpass two billion streams across all platforms.
The composer was awarded a CBE in the new year honours and will receive the Berlinale Camera award at the Berlin film festival. A ballet scored by Richter and inspired by Virginia Woolf’s works will be livestreamed in UK cinemas. Despite his success, some critics have criticised the overuse of his piece On the Nature of Daylight in films, which appears in Hamnet.
Richter’s breakthrough came with his early albums Memoryhouse and The Blue Notebooks, which blended classical techniques with emotional intensity. He has since become a sought-after collaborator in film, notably for Waltz with Bashir, and in ballet with choreographer Wayne McGregor.
