Ernesto Halffter Escriche (16 January 1905 – 5 July 1989) was a prominent Spanish composer and conductor, recognized as a member of the Grupo de los Ocho, a subset of the Generation of '27. Born in Madrid to a Prussian jeweler and his wife, Halffter was the younger brother of composer Rodolfo Halffter and the uncle of composer Cristóbal Halffter. His musical journey began early; he composed his first piece at the age of six and gained attention when his piano teacher performed his work "Crepúsculos" in 1922.

Halffter's career was significantly influenced by his meeting with Manuel de Falla in 1923, which led to a mentorship and composition lessons. His early work, "Sinfonietta," reflects the influence of Domenico Scarlatti, while his later compositions, such as "Rapsodia portuguesa," exhibit a more nationalistic style. Halffter also composed music for several films, most notably the 1947 adaptation of "Don Quixote de la Mancha" and the 1967 Oscar-nominated "El amor brujo."

In 1934, Halffter became the director and conductor of the Seville Conservatory of Music. Despite this position, he lived in Lisbon with his Portuguese pianist wife, Alice Câmara Santos, until 1954. His only student was Finnish composer Ann-Elise Hannikainen, who became his companion later in life. Following Falla's death in 1946, Halffter was entrusted with completing Falla's unfinished opera "Atlántida," which premiered in 1962 and was revised in 1976.

Halffter's friendship with Salvador Dalí led to the composition of "Homenaje a Salvador Dalí" for the opening of the Dalí Theatre and Museum in 1974. His contributions to music were recognized with Spain's Premio Nacional de Música in 1984. Ernesto Halffter passed away in Madrid, leaving behind a rich legacy of compositions, including symphonic works, songs, and film scores.