Ramon van Engelenhoven

Korngold: A portrait for piano

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.

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About the album

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.

Tracklist click to play/pause

  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold (arr. Ramon van Engelenhoven)

    Das Wunder der Heliane, Op. 20 Act II: "Ich ging zu ihm"

    7:30 Play button Pause button 7:30
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    Piano sonata No. 2, Op. 2

    1. I. Moderato
      8:28 Play button Pause button 8:28
    2. II. Scherzo. Allegro impetuoso
      8:09 Play button Pause button 8:09
    3. III. Largo
      7:19 Play button Pause button 7:19
    4. IV. Finale. Allegro vivace
      5:53 Play button Pause button 5:53
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold (arr. Ramon van Engelenhoven)

    Love Scene from "The Adventures of Robin Hood"

    7:14 Play button Pause button 7:14
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold (arr. Ramon van Engelenhoven)

    The Sea Hawk

    28:00 Play button Pause button 28:00

More information

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

Download Booklet(PDF)

Tech specs

Microphones

Josephson C617 w/ Gefell MK221 capsules (main)
Josephson C42 (height)

Microphone preamps

Grace Design m801mk2

AD/DA conversion

Merging Technologies Hapi MkII
Merging Technologies Anubis
Grimm Audio CC2

Recording resolution

DSD 11.2MHz 1bit

Mastering resolution

PCM 352.8kHz 64bit

Monitoring (recording)

Audeze LCD-X

Monitoring (mastering)

Grimm Audio LS1be
Grimm Audio SB1

Cabling

Purecable Optimus Link Microphone Cables
Purecable Optimus Power
Purecable Prime DIG75 Wordclock Cable

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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)

"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

Further reading

SKU: TTK 0124 SA Category:
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