Korngold: A portrait for piano

“Van Engelenhoven plays the atmospheric early Second Piano Sonata on the CD. And he adapted the film scores for ‘Seahawk’ and ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’ into mature piano works for the concert hall. He recast the aria ‘Ich ging zu ihm’ from the opera ‘Das Wunder der Heliane’ into a cloud of intoxicating sensuality.”

“The whole disc is a delight, one is impressed by the arrangements and the playing, and this homage is a gem for the many admirers of Korngold’s music. [...] One can imagine Korngold sitting at the piano, watching the movie and improvising the piano score. It seems so simple – but it is a genius at work.”

“In black-and-white album photos, the very dapper-looking van Engelenhoven looks wise beyond his years and very much like a matinee idol on the set of some ‘30s movie production. [...] Korngold benefits greatly from the spotlight the superb Dutch pianist shines in his direction, but one comes away from the recording as impressed with the immensely talented van Engelenhoven.”

“Arranging opera or film music for solo piano is a tricky process that is not easy to ‘control’, but it must be said that Van Engelenhoven has succeeded with flying colours in ‘translating’ the idiomatic character of the original to his instrument. The suite he composed from the film score of The Sea Hawk is a sparkling example of this, more than worthy of the album title. All in all, a feat of stature that clearly tastes like more.”

“Engelenhoven’s love and enthusiasm for this music is apparent throughout the program. This is bravura pianism, with a crispness of articulation evident in the rapid passages throughout the playlist. A sense of understanding of the music’s structure is also apparent, especially in the sonata, where it perhaps matters most. All of this is captured in gorgeous sound in an overall impressive album.”

“The writing of this Sonata is surprisingly virtuosic for a boy of thirteen, though it does not make von Engelenhoven in the least uncomfortable, as he is able to master it from end to end without uncertainty. To virtuosity von Engelenhoven finally indulges without any inhibitions in the last piece, an arrangement from the soundtrack of the 1940 film The Sea Hawk, also directed by Michael Curtiz. It`s music with powerful visual impact and full of descriptivism, yet remarkably well written. Korngold deserves to be reproduced in concert as well, to his cause this CD can only benefit.”

“All in all, this is an exceptional CD. Probably this is not a recording to conquer the general public with. But it is one with which the young pianist presents himself as a creative musician and brilliant arranger who also plays the piano fantastically.”