Role

:

Composer Conductor Performer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

May 29, 1897 in Brno, Czech Republic

Death

:

November 29, 1957 in Hollywood, CA

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Film

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Erich Wolfgang Korngold was born on May 29, 1897, in Brno, Austria-Hungary (now the Czech Republic). He was the second child of Julius Korngold, a prominent music critic and composer, and his wife, Josephine. From a young age, Korngold showed a remarkable talent for music, and his father began teaching him piano and composition when he was just three years old. Korngold's musical education continued at the Vienna Conservatory, where he studied with some of the most renowned composers of the time, including Alexander von Zemlinsky and Robert Fuchs. By the age of 13, Korngold had already composed his first orchestral work, a Scherzo for orchestra. In 1914, Korngold's father became the director of the Vienna Court Opera, and Korngold began working as his assistant. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented conductor and composer, and his first opera, "Der Ring des Polykrates," premiered in 1916 to critical acclaim. Over the next few years, Korngold continued to compose operas, including "Die tote Stadt" (The Dead City), which premiered in 1920 and became one of his most famous works. The opera was a huge success, and it was performed all over Europe and the United States. In the 1920s, Korngold also began composing music for films, which was a relatively new medium at the time. He quickly became one of the most sought-after film composers in Hollywood, and he worked on some of the most famous films of the era, including "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and "The Sea Hawk." Despite his success in Hollywood, Korngold continued to compose classical music, including several symphonies and chamber works. He also returned to opera, and his final opera, "Die Kathrin," premiered in 1939. In 1938, Korngold's life was upended by the Nazi invasion of Austria. He and his family fled to the United States, where he continued to work as a film composer. However, he also struggled to adapt to his new life in America, and he longed to return to Europe. After World War II, Korngold's music fell out of favor, as the avant-garde movement became more popular. However, in the 1970s, his music began to be rediscovered, and he is now recognized as one of the most important composers of the 20th century. Korngold's music is known for its lush, romantic melodies and its use of leitmotifs, which are recurring musical themes that are associated with specific characters or ideas. His film scores are particularly notable for their use of orchestration and their ability to enhance the emotional impact of the films they accompany. Some of Korngold's most famous works include his Violin Concerto, which was composed in 1945 and is considered one of the greatest violin concertos of the 20th century. He also composed several operas, including "Die tote Stadt," "Das Wunder der Heliane," and "Die Kathrin." Korngold died on November 29, 1957, in Hollywood, California. Despite the challenges he faced in his life, he left behind a rich legacy of music that continues to be celebrated and performed today.

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