Nominated for Edison Klassiek Award
It must have been some seven years ago that I first discovered the music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1857-1957) and I remember feeling absolutely overjoyed. I immediately felt an incredible connection to his music and it was honestly a sensation that I could only remember from discovering classical music in my early childhood.
It must have been some seven years ago that I first discovered the music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1857-1957) and I remember feeling absolutely overjoyed. While there was a time when he was mostly known as a composer for film, Korngold was in fact one of the most prodigious composers who ever lived, having already composed an imposing body of music in all genres before the cinema was even invented.
I knew that when doing a Korngold album I didn’t just want to feature his piano works, but rather present a bigger picture of his composing career. That is why this album features original music for the piano along with my own transcriptions of Korngold’s dramatic music from his operas and film scores. Together I hope they create a portrait of one of my favorite composers, someone who managed to bridge the gap between ‘serious’ and ‘light’ music like no other.
7:30
8:28
8:09
7:19
5:53
7:14
28:00
| Label | TRPTK |
|---|---|
| Genre(s) | Classical – Contemporary (> 1920) |
| Artist(s) | Ramon van Engelenhoven |
| Composer(s) | Engelenhoven, Ramon van Korngold, Erich Wolfgang |
| Recording location(s) | Muziekgebouw Eindhoven - Grote Zaal, Eindhoven (NL) |
| Recording date(s) | October 2023 |
| Cat. No. | TTK 0124 |
|---|---|
| Release date |
March 29th, 2024 |
| Additional links |
| Microphones | Josephson C617 w/ Gefell MK221 capsules (main) |
|---|---|
| Microphone preamps | Grace Design m801mk2 |
| AD/DA conversion | Merging Technologies Hapi MkII |
| Recording resolution | DSD 11.2MHz 1bit |
| Mastering resolution | PCM 352.8kHz 64bit |
| Monitoring (recording) | Audeze LCD-X |
| Monitoring (mastering) | Grimm Audio LS1be |
| Cabling | Purecable Optimus Link Microphone Cables |
"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."
Göran Forsling, MusicWeb International (Recording of the Month)
"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."
Luca Segalla, Musica Magazine
"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."
Hans Visser, Noordhollands Dagblad
"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."
Christo Lelie, Piano Bulletin
"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."
Ron Schepper, Textura
"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."
John W. Waxman, FilmScore Monthly
"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."
Aart van der Wal, Opus Klassiek
