He held academic positions at the University of Cape Town, where he became an emeritus professor of composition and director of the South African College of Music.
Klatzow was born in Springs, South Africa, into a family with Jewish heritage, although he was baptized at St. Peter's Anglican Church, Brakpan, due to his maternal grandmother's influence.
[3] He also studied in Italy before taking lessons with the famous pedagogue Nadia Boulanger in Paris, who had a lasting influence on his compositional philosophy.
This exploration of tonality reflects a broader tension in Klatzow’s work between modernist abstraction and more traditional harmonic structures, a characteristic that marks his unique contribution to South African classical music.
For Klatzow, the abstraction in Klee’s art provided a rich source of inspiration, allowing him to explore the layers of meaning through musical textures and colors.
[2] Martina Viljoen has also highlighted Klatzow’s sensitivity to the interplay between different art forms, noting that his compositions often evoke synaesthetic experiences where visual, literary, and musical metaphors converge.
As a professor and mentor, Klatzow influenced generations of South African composers, helping shape the country’s music landscape.