Beethoven's Silence

Ernesto Cortazar (1940-2004), was a Mexican contemporary classical composer and pianist. His father was an accomplished composer respected in his field and was named president of the Society of Authors and Composers of Mexico. Orphaned at age 13, Cortazar continued with his studies by attending a music academy and later studied with Maestro Gustavo César Carreón, one of Mexico's most important and recognized music industry performers and creatives. Carreón gave him his first opportunity to compose a piano piece titled "River of Dreams" which became a smash hit in Latin America and Spain and later won the award for Best Background Music for a Latin American Film at The Cartagena Festival. Since then, Ernesto Cortazar has composed musical scores for more than 500 motion pictures. He also gained notoriety by topping the popularity on MP3.com - a leading music-sharing service, popular with independent musicians for promoting their work. In 2001, Cortazar moved from Los Angeles to Tampico, Mexico to live his last years near his family. His music legacy is continued by his two sons, Ernesto Cortazar III and Edgar Cortazar, who are successful songwriters on the Latin market.