Historical photo: Lalo Schifrin (age 91) and Rod Schejtman (age 39) composing the symphony Viva la Libertad (Long Live Freedom) at Schifrin's studio in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California. Early 2024.

Historical photo: Lalo Schifrin (age 91) and Rod Schejtman (age 39) composing the symphony Viva la Libertad (Long Live Freedom) at Schifrin's studio in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California. Early 2024.

Co-authors Lalo Schifrin and Rod Schejtman during their first interview together with El Suplemento magazine. Conducted in August 2024 at Schifrin’s Beverly Hills mansion in Los Angeles, California. Published April 2025.

Historic announcement in Diario Perfil, one of Argentina’s leading newspapers. Published September 13, 2024, the front-page article officially confirmed the collaboration between legendary composer Lalo Schifrin and World Classical Music Champion Rod Schejtman on a new symphony inspired by Argentina’s history and the universal ideals of freedom. The article marked the public unveiling of their joint work, the symphony Viva la Libertad.

Official government poster announcing the world premiere of the symphony ¡Viva la Libertad!, co-composed by Lalo Schifrin and Rod Schejtman. Performances held on April 11 and 12, 2025 at Argentina’s Palacio Libertad, under the National Symphony Orchestra.

April 11th, 2025 — Buenos Aires, Argentina. The world premiere of the final symphony co-composed by Maestros Lalo Schifrin and Rod Schejtman took place at the National Auditorium of Palacio Libertad, with 100 musicians from Argentina’s National Symphony Orchestra performing under the baton of Swiss conductor Emmanuel Siffert.

At Palacio Libertad in Buenos Aires, Maestro Rod Schejtman, wearing a velvet red tuxedo, stands in representation of both composers during the world premiere of the final symphony co-written with Lalo Schifrin.
April 11th, 2025 — Performed by Argentina’s National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Emmanuel Siffert.

At Palacio Libertad in Buenos Aires, Maestro Rod Schejtman, wearing a velvet red tuxedo, bows during a standing ovation following the world premiere of the final symphony he co-composed with Lalo Schifrin. Schejtman represented both composers on stage for the historic unveiling.
April 11th, 2025 — Performed by Argentina’s National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Emmanuel Siffert.

Buenos Aires, April 11, 2025 — Maestro Rod Schejtman introduces the final symphony co-composed with Lalo Schifrin before a video of both composers was projected to the audience. Performed by Argentina’s National Symphony Orchestra at Palacio Libertad.

A full house witnesses the world premiere of Viva la Libertad ("Long Live Freedom") at Palacio Libertad in Buenos Aires. April 11, 2025. The symphony was performed by 100 musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra.

World Premiere

The symphony ¡Viva la Libertad! by Maestros Schifrin and Schejtman

The symphony ¡Viva la Libertad!, composed by Maestros Lalo Schifrin and Rod Schejtman, had its world premiere on April 11 and 12, 2025, at the National Auditorium of the Palacio Libertad in the City of Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic. It was performed by the National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Emmanuel Siffert.

Following the final performance, in a historic and unprecedented gesture, Radio Nacional Clásica and Canal 7 TV, Argentina’s national public radio and television, broadcast the complete symphony live — simultaneously, uninterrupted, and on the very night of the premiere — immediately after the Argentine National Anthem.

The symphony ¡Viva la Libertad! was officially declared Work of Cultural Interest by the Presidency of the Argentine Republic, in recognition of its artistic, symbolic, and historical significance.

The Concert

A Historic Encounter Across Generations

Commemorating a historic artistic encounter between two generations of Argentine composers, separated by half a century yet united by music and by a shared tribute to their homeland and to the principle of freedom.

The concert titled “Fusion of Two Worlds” brought together Maestro Lalo Schifrin — a legendary figure in international film music — and Maestro Rod Schejtman — a contemporary authority in symphonic composition — for the world première of their joint creation, the symphony ¡Viva la Libertad! Scored for extended symphony orchestra, the work is dedicated to Argentina and to the ideals of freedom, and it bears the signatures of both composers as co-authors.

The symphony received its world première in the National Auditorium of Palacio Libertad, performed by the National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Emmanuel Siffert, in a historic event that wove tradition and modernity into a single cultural celebration.

It stands as a testament to art, to creative union, and to Argentine excellence projected onto the world stage. Above all, ¡Viva la Libertad! stands as a musical tribute to freedom — a value that transcends nations, generations, and time itself — with Argentina proudly offering its voice to the global call for liberty.

The Story Behind the Symphony

The Fusion of Two Worlds

The symphony ¡Viva la Libertad! was born from a historic collaboration between two Argentine composers from different generations, separated by more than half a century: Maestro Lalo Schifrin and Maestro Rod Schejtman. From Los Angeles, Schifrin invited Schejtman with the purpose of merging the cinematic language that defined his storied Hollywood career with the contemporary classical symphonic tradition that characterizes Schejtman.

The selection of Rod Schejtman was no coincidence. After representing the Argentine Republic and being awarded the top prize at the WorldVision Composers Contest in Vienna — known as the “World Cup of Classical Music” and backed by over 60 prestigious international institutions and sponsors, including the New York Philharmonic, Steinway & Sons, and other globally recognized names — Schejtman established himself as one of the most acclaimed voices in contemporary academic music worldwide.

Over six months of creative collaboration in Los Angeles, Schifrin and Schejtman interwove ideas, visions, and styles. The result was ¡Viva la Libertad!, a symphony for full symphonic orchestra, dedicated to Argentina and jointly signed by both as co-composers.

Conceived as a symphony that would unite two musical languages from different generations, ¡Viva la Libertad! became a unique milestone in Lalo Schifrin’s career — the first time he chose to share authorship of a symphonic work — fusing his legacy with that of Rod Schejtman in a project that brought together two Argentines composing in honor of their homeland and the universal value of freedom.

The world premiere, held at the National Auditorium of the Palacio Libertad, was part of the special event titled “The Fusion of Two Worlds: Lalo Schifrin + Rod Schejtman.” The evening was performed in its entirety by the Argentine National Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Emmanuel Siffert.

The first half of the program offered a journey through each composer’s individual career: emblematic works by Schifrin — including his renowned Mission: Impossible theme — and, representing Schejtman, La Magia di Vivere, the piece with which he earned top recognition in Vienna. This selection provided the audience with a balanced preview of the musical languages and styles that would converge in the symphony.

During intermission, excerpts from a documentary filmed in Los Angeles were projected, capturing the creative process behind ¡Viva la Libertad!, along with specially recorded messages from both composers.

The second half of the concert culminated in the world premiere of the symphony. The performance, marked by exceptional expressive power and sensitivity, sealed the union of two musical worlds in a work that proudly projects Argentine cultural identity onto the international stage.

Palacio Libertad

Argentina’s National Cultural Flagship

In the historic heart of Buenos Aires, Palacio Libertad rises as a monumental Beaux-Arts landmark whose 100,000 m² footprint places it among the world’s largest cultural complexes — considerably larger than New York’s Lincoln Center, which occupies about 66,000 m². Declared a National Historic Monument in 1997, the building was later restored with twenty-first-century theatre technology while preserving its French-influenced marble façades and copper-roofed mansard.

Behind those façades, nine floors contain an integrated constellation of venues: a 1,950-seat symphonic hall, five additional theatres, eighteen multipurpose salons, forty gallery rooms totalling 15,000 m², sixteen professional rehearsal studios, and two panoramic rooftop terraces. This infrastructure sustains a continuous calendar of symphonic concerts, opera, dance, film screenings, curated exhibitions, and interdisciplinary festivals.

Palacio Libertad is home to the Argentine National Symphony Orchestra and welcomes artists such as Martha Argerich and Daniel Barenboim; visiting ensembles range from the Vienna Philharmonic to leading new-music collectives. The complex is frequently chosen for high-level state ceremonies and multilateral forums, where the arts create an atmosphere conducive to international dialogue.

The world première of ¡Viva la Libertad!, the new symphony by Lalo Schifrin and Rod Schejtman, was presented here — an event that joined a long continuum of landmark performances staged in this national flagship for artistic excellence. By uniting early-twentieth-century grandeur with contemporary capability, Palacio Libertad stands as Argentina’s foremost platform for cultural engagement on a global scale.

The National Auditorium

Palacio Libertad’s Acoustical Heart

At the core of Palacio Libertad lies the National Auditorium, a blimp-shaped concert hall conceived as a “box within a box.” Structural separation from the palace shell ensures negligible vibration and a reverberation profile comparable to Vienna’s Musikverein, long regarded as an acoustic benchmark. Seating 1,950 listeners — out-sizing the Musikverein’s 1,700-seat “Golden Hall” yet preserving intimacy through steeply tiered balconies — the auditorium combines precision acoustics with visual drama; its cobalt-blue exterior has earned the affectionate nickname La Ballena Azul.

An adjustable acoustic canopy, finely tuned wall panels, and a four-manual Klais organ of roughly 8,000 pipes enable repertoire from Baroque concertos to colossal choral-symphonic scores. Advanced stage mechanics and LED systems support opera, ballet, multimedia productions, and ceremonial events of state.

The Argentine National Symphony Orchestra rehearses and performs here alongside the Buenos Aires Philharmonic, the National Polyphonic Choir, and distinguished guests. Virtuosi such as Argerich and Barenboim have presented milestone concerts, and touring orchestras — including the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonics — have chosen the hall for Latin-American appearances, reinforcing its standing among the world’s elite venues.

Balancing Argentine heritage with international collaboration, the National Auditorium has hosted premières of contemporary works — most recently ¡Viva la Libertad! — alongside the canon of symphonic literature. Its design and programming embody the nation’s commitment to artistic freedom, technical excellence, and global cultural exchange.

The National Symphony Orchestra

Argentina’s Premier Orchestral Institution

The National Symphony Orchestra of Argentina, founded in 1948, is the most important orchestral organization in the country and one of the leading symphonic orchestras in Latin America. Since its inception, its mission has been to disseminate the universal repertoire, promote contemporary creation, and represent Argentina's cultural richness to the world.

Throughout its history, the Orchestra has collaborated with internationally renowned figures such as Igor Stravinsky, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Pablo Casals, Ernest Ansermet, Sergiu Celibidache, and Georg Solti, strengthening artistic ties between Argentina and the world's highest musical traditions.

Simultaneously, under the direction of maestros such as Juan José Castro, Teodoro Fuchs, Simón Blech, and Pedro Ignacio Calderón, the Orchestra has consolidated an artistic profile that combines interpretive excellence and a deep commitment to the country's cultural development.

Renowned for its artistic quality, the National Symphony Orchestra has toured internationally in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, performing in world-class venues and bringing Argentine art to diverse audiences. Its career has been distinguished with awards such as the Platinum Konex and recognition as Best Orchestra of the Season by the Argentine Music Critics Association.

In 2025, the National Symphony Orchestra celebrated the world premiere of the symphony ¡Viva la Libertad!, composed by Lalo Schifrin and Rod Schejtman — an event that reaffirmed the Orchestra’s role as a leading ambassador of Argentine artistic creation on the international cultural stage.

Lalo Schifrin

The Hollywood Legendary Composer

Born in Argentina, Lalo Schifrin is one of the most iconic figures in contemporary music. A five-time Grammy Award winner, four-time Emmy Award recipient, six-time Oscar nominee, and Honorary Oscar laureate, he is internationally celebrated as the composer of the legendary Mission: Impossible theme — a piece that earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

His brilliant musical career, spanning more than six decades, has made him a living legend, admired not only for his compositional genius but also for his masterful ability to fuse genres such as jazz, classical music, tango, and film scoring. From his earliest years, Schifrin displayed a remarkable talent for breaking cultural boundaries, working tirelessly to shape a unique sonic identity that positioned him as one of the most influential composers of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Throughout his prolific career, he composed the music for over one hundred Hollywood films, collaborating closely with cinema legends like Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen, Robert Redford, and Paul Newman, who repeatedly turned to him for his unparalleled sensitivity in heightening drama and tension on screen.

Alongside his film work, he collaborated with major figures in the world of jazz, including Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, and Count Basie, recording landmark albums and embarking on international tours that helped revolutionize the musical landscape of his time.

Schifrin received his early musical training in Buenos Aires, where he had the privilege of studying under great masters such as the influential Argentine composer Juan Carlos Paz — a student of Arnold Schoenberg — and the renowned French composer Olivier Messiaen, artistic heir to Maurice Ravel. Their mentorship left a lasting mark on Schifrin’s musical language and philosophical approach to composition.

In the classical arena, his versatility and artistry led him to work with the three great tenors of the operatic world — Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, and José Carreras — creating masterful arrangements featured in major concerts and international tours.

Schifrin’s classical works have been performed under the baton of some of the most prestigious conductors of recent history, including Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, and Herbert von Karajan, with performances by renowned orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

In 2024, after decades of international acclaim, Lalo Schifrin made a historic decision in his career: for the first time, he chose to share authorship of a symphonic work. He summoned Rod Schejtman — laureate of the WorldVision Composers Contest, who had recently represented Argentina on the world stage — to co-compose a large-scale symphonic tribute to their homeland.

The result was ¡Viva la Libertad!, a monumental 40-minute symphony for full orchestra, created as a musical homage to Argentina and the universal ideal of freedom. The work brought together two generations of Argentine composers, merging Schifrin’s cinematic mastery with Schejtman’s classical lyricism in a singular artistic gesture driven by patriotism and principle.

Rod Schejtman

The Worldwide Winner of The World Cup of Classical Music

Born in Argentina, Rod Schejtman is a globally acclaimed, award-winning composer known for integrating classical symphonic structure with cinematic scoring techniques. As both a musician and professional engineer, his work reflects technical rigor and stylistic clarity, uniting traditional forms with contemporary sensibilities.

His distinctive style earned him the prestigious “World Winner” title at the WorldVision Composers Contest in Vienna — often referred to as the “World Cup of Classical Music.” Representing the Argentine Republic, Schejtman competed in a two-year selection process backed by 60 renowned institutions including Steinway & Sons, Bechstein, and the New York Philharmonic. The competition assembled many of the world’s foremost symphonic composers from 32 countries. Following a rigorous sequence of regional, national, and continental eliminations, he was named global laureate.

In 2024, following this international recognition, Schejtman relocated to Los Angeles, where he was personally summoned by legendary composer Lalo Schifrin — creator of the Mission: Impossible theme and recipient of an Honorary Oscar, five Grammy Awards, and four Emmys — to co-compose a symphonic tribute to their shared homeland, Argentina. The result was a monumental 40-minute symphony for full orchestra, blending Schejtman’s classical architecture and lyricism with Schifrin’s unmistakable cinematic brilliance.

His work has been featured on prestigious international stages such as the Musilosophy Festival in Rome and Plaça Catalunya in Barcelona, where he has performed as both composer and pianist. These performances, broadcast on Radio FM 104.5 and Antena 3 TV, further consolidated his presence as a musician of global reach.

Beyond the concert hall, Schejtman is the founder of The Piano Encyclopedia, a global music education and publishing platform, and the creator of The Logic Behind Music — a method praised by Forbes.com as “revolutionizing the way people learn how to play the piano around the world.” With over 250,000 students in 75 countries, the platform empowers musicians of all levels to understand harmony, play by ear, improvise, and compose — mastering skills traditionally thought to be the domain of prodigies.

Schejtman is also the author of multiple books, including The Secret Lives of the Greatest Composers, The Ultimate Guide to Piano Technique, and Music Fundamentals. Leading a research initiative with a team of scholars, he conducted an extensive study tracing the pedagogical lineage and theoretical writings of the great masters and their disciples, presenting the findings at international academic events, including International Piano Week 2020.

In 2025, Schejtman was officially appointed Corresponding Member for Argentina by the historic Bach Society, becoming the first Argentine to receive this distinction in the Society’s century-long history, since its founding in 1917. The board’s decision was unanimous, citing “his outstanding qualities as a musician, pianist, and composer, positioning him as a key figure in the contemporary classical music world.”