Erich Korngold - Definition and Overview

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (May 29, 1897 - November 29, 1957) was a composer.

Korngold was born in Brno, Austria-Hungary (now Czech Republic), the son of the music critic Julius Korngold, and studied music under Alexander von Zemlinsky. Gustav Mahler, upon meeting the young Erich, called him a "musical genius." He had success in Europe with his opera Die tote Stadt (1920) among other pieces before moving to the United States where he wrote a number of highly regarded film scores. He continued to write concert music in a rich, Romantic style, with a concerto for violin among his notable later works. He died in Hollywood.

His works include:

Classical works

• Piano Concerto (composed 1923; first performed 1924)
• Songs of the Clown (1937)
• Violin Concerto (composed 1945; first performed 1947)
• Cello Concerto (1946)

Operas

• Der Ring des Polykrates (1916)
• Violanta (1916)
• Die tote Stadt (1920)
• Das Wunder der Heliane (opera) (1927)
• Die Kathrin (1939)

Film soundtracks

• Captain Blood (1935)
• The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
• The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)
• The Sea Hawk (1940)
• The Sea Wolf (1941)
• Of Human Bondage (1945)

Operettas

• Eine Nacht in Venedig (One Night in Venice) (1923)
• Walzer aus Wien (Waltzes from Vienna) (1930)
• Das Lied der Liebe (The Song of Love) (1931)
• Die Geschiedene Frau (1932)
• The Great Waltz (1949)

External link

• Korngold Society (http://www.korngold-society.org)