Erich Wolfgang Korngold was born on May 29, 1897, in Brünn, Austria-Hungary (now Brno, Czech Republic), into a highly musical and intellectual family. His father, Julius Korngold, was a prominent music critic, and his mother, Josephine, was a skilled pianist. Named after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Erich displayed prodigious musical talent from an early age, composing his first works as a child. His early compositions caught the attention of Gustav Mahler, who declared him a genius and recommended that he study with Alexander von Zemlinsky.
Early career and rise to fame
Korngold’s early career was marked by extraordinary success. By the age of 11, he had composed the ballet “Der Schneemann” (The Snowman), which was performed at the Vienna Court Opera and received critical acclaim. His talent continued to develop, leading to a series of remarkable compositions, including a piano trio, a piano sonata, and a chamber symphony, all of which established him as a wunderkind in the world of classical music.
In 1916, at the age of 19, Korngold premiered his opera “Violanta” and the one-act opera “Der Ring des Polykrates” in Munich, solidifying his reputation as a leading composer of his generation. His magnum opus, the opera “Die tote Stadt” (The Dead City), premiered in 1920 in both Hamburg and Cologne, becoming one of the most significant operatic successes of the 20th century.
Transition to Hollywood
The rise of the Nazi regime in the 1930s prompted Korngold, who was of Jewish descent, to emigrate to the United States. In 1934, he received an invitation from the director Max Reinhardt to adapt Felix Mendelssohn’s music for the film “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” This project marked the beginning of Korngold’s illustrious career in Hollywood.
Korngold’s impact on film music was profound. He composed scores for numerous classic films, including “Captain Blood” (1935), “The Adventures of Robin Hood” (1938), for which he won an Academy Award, and “The Sea Hawk” (1940). His ability to blend rich orchestral textures with dramatic narrative helped elevate the art of film scoring, making him one of the pioneers in this field.
Return to concert music
Despite his success in Hollywood, Korngold yearned to return to concert music. After World War II, he composed a number of significant works, including his Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 (1945), which has since become a staple of the violin repertoire. The concerto, dedicated to the memory of Alma Mahler and Franz Werfel, showcased Korngold’s lyrical style and his gift for melodic invention.
Other notable post-war works include his Symphony in F-sharp major, Op. 40 (1947), which, despite mixed initial reviews, has come to be recognized as a masterpiece of 20th-century orchestral music. Korngold’s late works reflect a synthesis of his European roots and his experiences in Hollywood, blending lush harmonies with intricate orchestration.
Legacy and influence
Erich Wolfgang Korngold passed away on November 29, 1957, in Hollywood, California. His legacy as both a classical composer and a film music pioneer remains influential. His work has undergone a significant reassessment in recent decades, with many of his compositions being revived and performed regularly.
Korngold’s music is celebrated for its emotional depth, technical mastery, and melodic richness. His ability to transcend genres and merge the worlds of classical music and cinema has left an indelible mark on both fields. Today, Korngold is recognized not only for his contributions to film music but also as a vital figure in the development of 20th-century classical music.
Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897 – 1957)
Erich Wolfgang Korngold was born on May 29, 1897, in Brünn, Austria-Hungary (now Brno, Czech Republic), into a highly musical and intellectual family. His father, Julius Korngold, was a prominent music critic, and his mother, Josephine, was a skilled pianist. Named after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Erich displayed prodigious musical talent from an early age, composing his first works as a child. His early compositions caught the attention of Gustav Mahler, who declared him a genius and recommended that he study with Alexander von Zemlinsky.
Early career and rise to fame
Korngold’s early career was marked by extraordinary success. By the age of 11, he had composed the ballet “Der Schneemann” (The Snowman), which was performed at the Vienna Court Opera and received critical acclaim. His talent continued to develop, leading to a series of remarkable compositions, including a piano trio, a piano sonata, and a chamber symphony, all of which established him as a wunderkind in the world of classical music.
In 1916, at the age of 19, Korngold premiered his opera “Violanta” and the one-act opera “Der Ring des Polykrates” in Munich, solidifying his reputation as a leading composer of his generation. His magnum opus, the opera “Die tote Stadt” (The Dead City), premiered in 1920 in both Hamburg and Cologne, becoming one of the most significant operatic successes of the 20th century.
Transition to Hollywood
The rise of the Nazi regime in the 1930s prompted Korngold, who was of Jewish descent, to emigrate to the United States. In 1934, he received an invitation from the director Max Reinhardt to adapt Felix Mendelssohn’s music for the film “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” This project marked the beginning of Korngold’s illustrious career in Hollywood.
Korngold’s impact on film music was profound. He composed scores for numerous classic films, including “Captain Blood” (1935), “The Adventures of Robin Hood” (1938), for which he won an Academy Award, and “The Sea Hawk” (1940). His ability to blend rich orchestral textures with dramatic narrative helped elevate the art of film scoring, making him one of the pioneers in this field.
Return to concert music
Despite his success in Hollywood, Korngold yearned to return to concert music. After World War II, he composed a number of significant works, including his Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 (1945), which has since become a staple of the violin repertoire. The concerto, dedicated to the memory of Alma Mahler and Franz Werfel, showcased Korngold’s lyrical style and his gift for melodic invention.
Other notable post-war works include his Symphony in F-sharp major, Op. 40 (1947), which, despite mixed initial reviews, has come to be recognized as a masterpiece of 20th-century orchestral music. Korngold’s late works reflect a synthesis of his European roots and his experiences in Hollywood, blending lush harmonies with intricate orchestration.
Legacy and influence
Erich Wolfgang Korngold passed away on November 29, 1957, in Hollywood, California. His legacy as both a classical composer and a film music pioneer remains influential. His work has undergone a significant reassessment in recent decades, with many of his compositions being revived and performed regularly.
Korngold’s music is celebrated for its emotional depth, technical mastery, and melodic richness. His ability to transcend genres and merge the worlds of classical music and cinema has left an indelible mark on both fields. Today, Korngold is recognized not only for his contributions to film music but also as a vital figure in the development of 20th-century classical music.
Discography
Korngold: A portrait for piano
Ramon van Engelenhoven