Les Miserables lyricist Herbert Kretzmer dies aged 95
Written by News on 14/10/2020
Tributes are being paid to Les Miserables lyricist and “giant of his trade” Herbert Kretzmer, who has died at the age of 95.
Family and friends confirmed the news of his death on social media.
Sir Tim Rice, best known for his musical collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, tweeted: “The great lyricist and man of theatre and popular song, Herbert Kretzmer, has died.
“From Les Mis to She, TW3, Goodness Gracious Me and so much more he was a giant of his trade. RIP Herbie.”
Born in South Africa, Kretzmer moved to London in 1954 and worked as a journalist as well as a songwriter.
He wrote songs for BBC satire That Was The Week That Was, and won an Ivor Novello Award for the comedy hit Goodness Gracious Me, performed by Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren. He also worked with French singer Charles Aznavour on his 1974 hit She, which topped the charts in the UK.
However, it is the much-loved English language lyrics for world-renowned musical Les Miserables that he is best known for.
Based on the 1862 French novel of the same name by Victor Hugo, with songs including I Dreamed a Dream, Bring Him Home and On My Own, his work on the musical earned him both a Tony and a Grammy award.
He was also a credited screenwriter and the credited lyricist for the Oscar-winning film version, released in 2012, which starred Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter.
As well as Les Miserables, Kretzmer also wrote the book and lyrics for the West End musical Our Man Crichton, and the lyrics for The Four Musketeers and English lyrics for the musical Marguerite.
(c) Sky News 2020: Les Miserables lyricist Herbert Kretzmer dies aged 95
