Cristobal Halffter

Cristóbal Halffter (born March 24, 1930 in Madrid) is a Spanish composer. He is the nephew of two other composers, Rodolfo and Ernesto Halffter. In 1936, Halffter's family moved to Germany to escape the Spanish Civil War, but they returned to Madrid in 1939, and Halftter studied at the German School there, graduating in 1951. In 1955, he was appointed conductor of the Falla orchestra. He forged a successful career as composer and conductor, writing music which combined a traditional Spanish element with avant-garde techniques.