Composer

:

Erich Wolfgang Korngold

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1957

Average_duration

:

2:59

Erich Wolfgang Korngold's 'Sonett Für Wien for voice & piano, Op. 41' is a song cycle composed in 1953. The work was premiered in Vienna on May 17, 1953, with the composer himself at the piano and the renowned Austrian soprano Hilde Gueden as the vocalist. The cycle consists of six songs, each based on a sonnet by the Austrian poet and playwright Hugo von Hofmannsthal. The first movement, 'Wien', is a tribute to the city of Vienna, with Korngold's lush harmonies and soaring melodies evoking the grandeur and elegance of the Austrian capital. The second movement, 'Die Stadt', is a more introspective piece, with the piano providing a delicate accompaniment to the singer's contemplative musings on the nature of the city. The third movement, 'Die Nachtigall', is a lively and playful song, with the piano imitating the trills and chirps of a nightingale while the singer extols the beauty of nature. The fourth movement, 'Ein alter Tibetteppich', is a hauntingly beautiful piece, with Korngold's rich harmonies and intricate piano accompaniment creating a sense of mystery and nostalgia. The fifth movement, 'Das eilende Herz', is a passionate and dramatic song, with the singer expressing her longing for love and the piano providing a turbulent and restless accompaniment. The final movement, 'Sterne', is a serene and contemplative piece, with Korngold's gentle harmonies and delicate piano accompaniment evoking the beauty and wonder of the night sky. Overall, 'Sonett Für Wien' is a masterful work that showcases Korngold's gift for melody and harmony, as well as his deep love for his native city of Vienna. The cycle is a testament to the enduring power of art to capture the essence of a time and place, and to evoke the emotions and experiences that make us human.

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