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.
Ramon van Engelenhoven
Korngold: A portrait for piano
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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
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Erich Wolfgang Korngold (arr. Ramon van Engelenhoven)
Das Wunder der Heliane, Op. 20 Act II: "Ich ging zu ihm"
7:30
7:30
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Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Piano sonata No. 2, Op. 2
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I. Moderato
8:28
8:28
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II. Scherzo. Allegro impetuoso
8:09
8:09
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III. Largo
7:19
7:19
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IV. Finale. Allegro vivace
5:53
5:53
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Erich Wolfgang Korngold (arr. Ramon van Engelenhoven)
Love Scene from "The Adventures of Robin Hood"
7:14
7:14
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Erich Wolfgang Korngold (arr. Ramon van Engelenhoven)
The Sea Hawk
28:00
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 |
Tech specs
| 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 |
"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
"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
"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
