Claude-Michel Schönberg

Claude-Michel Schönberg (born 6 July 1944) is a French composer, record producer, singer, and songwriter, renowned for his work in musical theatre, particularly his long-term collaboration with librettist Alain Boublil on blockbuster productions such as Les Misérables and Miss Saigon. Born in Vannes to Hungarian-Jewish parents with a strong musical background, Schönberg initially pursued a career in pop music, serving as a singer and artistic director at EMI Records, where he produced artists including Gilbert Bécaud and Franck Pourcel.

Schönberg's transition to musical theatre began in the 1970s, inspired by rock operas like Jesus Christ Superstar, leading to his debut major work, the French rock opera La Révolution Française in 1973, which he co-composed and produced. This marked the start of his partnership with Boublil, culminating in Les Misérables (1980 in Paris, 1985 in London), an adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel that became one of the longest-running musicals in Broadway history, winning eight Tony Awards including Best Musical in 1987. Their follow-up, Miss Saigon (1989), a Vietnam War-era story inspired by Madame Butterfly, achieved similar global success, running for nearly a decade on both the West End and Broadway and earning multiple Olivier and Tony nominations.

Beyond musicals, Schönberg has composed for ballet, including Wuthering Heights (2002) and Cleopatra (2011) for Northern Ballet, and contributed to the 2012 film adaptation of Les Misérables, for which he reconceived the music and co-wrote the screenplay; the film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media. Other notable collaborations include Martin Guerre (1996), The Pirate Queen (2006), and Marguerite (2008). Schönberg holds academic honors such as Emeritus Fellow at St Catherine's College, University of Oxford, and Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music, reflecting his enduring influence on contemporary musical theatre. As of 2025, his musicals continue to tour worldwide, with Les Misérables marking 40 years since its West End debut.