Biography (read more)
Erich Wolfgang Korngold was an Austrian-American composer and conductor, born in Brünn, Moravia (then Austria-Hungary, now Brno), and a celebrated child prodigy in Vienna, where he built an early career that included conducting the Hamburg Opera by age twenty-four. Fleeing Nazi persecution, he relocated to Hollywood in 1934 at the invitation of director Max Reinhardt and adopted United States citizenship in 1943, remaining in California for the rest of his life. His output spans six operas, including Die tote Stadt, alongside symphonic and chamber works and sixteen Hollywood film scores, notably for Captain Blood, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and Kings Row, which helped define the sound of dramatic film music. He died in Los Angeles in 1957, following a severe stroke suffered the previous year.
Once critically neglected after his emigration, as concert audiences dismissed his lushly late-Romantic idiom as old-fashioned, Korngold underwent a major revival beginning with a 1972 reissue of his music, and he is now recognized as a pioneering figure in film scoring whose symphonic Hollywood style directly influenced later composers such as John Williams. His operas and concert works are increasingly programmed by major institutions, cementing his standing as a key bridge between the late-Romantic Viennese tradition and twentieth-century film music.
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Repertoire
Korngold: Suite for Piano Left-Hand and Strings, Op. 23: I. Präludium und Fuge— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: Suite for Piano Left-Hand and Strings, Op. 23: II. Walzer— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: Suite for Piano Left-Hand and Strings, Op. 23: III. Groteske— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: Suite for Piano Left-Hand and Strings, Op. 23: V. Rondo-Finale. Variationen— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: Suite for Piano Left-Hand and Strings, Op. 23: IV. Lied— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Suite for 2 Violins, Cello & Piano Left Hand, Op. 23: I. Präludium und Fuge. Kräftig und bestimmt— Yo-Yo Ma
Performed by Yo-Yo Ma
Suite for 2 Violins, Cello & Piano Left Hand, Op. 23: II. Walzer. Nicht schnell, anmutig— Yo-Yo Ma
Performed by Yo-Yo Ma
Suite for 2 Violins, Cello & Piano Left Hand, Op. 23: III. Groteske. Möglich rasch— Yo-Yo Ma
Performed by Yo-Yo Ma
Suite for 2 Violins, Cello & Piano Left Hand, Op. 23: IV. Lied. Schlicht und innig, nicht zu…— Yo-Yo Ma
Performed by Yo-Yo Ma
Suite for 2 Violins, Cello & Piano Left Hand, Op. 23: V. Rondo – Finale. Variationen— Yo-Yo Ma
Performed by Yo-Yo Ma
Die tote Stadt, Op. 12, Act 2: Lied. “Mein Sehnen, mein Wähnen” (Fritz)— Thomas Hampson
Performed by Thomas Hampson
Die tote Stadt, Op. 12, Act 2: Tanzlied des Pierrot (Arr. Lenaerts for Harp)— Anneleen Lenaerts
Performed by Anneleen Lenaerts
Die tote Stadt, Op. 12, Act I: Lied. “Glück, das mir verblieb” (Marietta)— Michael Spyres
Performed by Michael Spyres
Die tote Stadt, Op. 12, Act 2: Tanzlied des Pierrot. “Mein Sehnen, mein Wähnen” (Fritz)— Huw Montague Rendall
Performed by Huw Montague Rendall
Die tote Stadt, Op.12, IEK 23, Act II: “Mein Sehnen, Mein Wähnen, es träumt sich zurück”…— Hermann Prey
Performed by Hermann Prey
Die tote Stadt, Op. 12, Act 2: “Mein Sehnen, mein Wähnen, es träumt sich zurück” (Pierrot)— Hermann Prey
Performed by Hermann Prey
Korngold: Piano Quintet in E Major, Op. 15: I. Mäßiges Zeitmaß, mit schwungvoll blühendem…— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: Piano Quintet in E Major, Op. 15: II. Adagio. Mit größter Ruhe, stets äußerst…— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: Piano Quintet in E Major, Op. 15: III. Finale. Gemessen, beinahe pathetisch— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Piano Quintet in E Major, Op. 15: I. Mäßiges Zeitmass, mit schwungvoll blühendem Ausdruck— Martha Argerich
Performed by Martha Argerich
Piano Quintet in E Major, Op. 15: II. Adagio. Mit größter Ruhe, stets äußerst gebunden und…— Martha Argerich
Performed by Martha Argerich
Piano Quintet in E Major, Op. 15: III. Finale. Gemessen beinahe pathetisch— Martha Argerich
Performed by Martha Argerich
Symphonic Serende, Op. 39: I. Allegro moderato, semplice— Howard Shelley
Performed by Howard Shelley
Symphonic Serende, Op. 39: II. Intermezzo. Allegro molto— Howard Shelley
Performed by Howard Shelley
Symphonic Serende, Op. 39: IV. Finale. Allegro con fuoco— Howard Shelley
Performed by Howard Shelley
Korngold: Fünf Lieder Op. 38: III. Alt-Spanisch; Andantino— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: Drei Gesänge Op. 18: I. “In meine innige Nacht” langsam – attaca— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: Drei Gesänge Op. 18: II. “Tu ab den Schmerz” nicht geschleppt – attaca— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: Drei Gesänge Op. 18: III. Versuchung – mit Feuer und Begeisterung— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: 4 Shakespeare Songs, Op. 31: No. 1, Desdemona’s Song— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Die tote Stadt: Act I: Glück, das mir verblieb (Marietta’s Lied)— René Kollo
Performed by Hermann Prey
Die tote Stadt: Act II: Da ihr befehlet, Königin (Pierrot Lied)— René Kollo
Performed by Hermann Prey
Korngold: Liebesbriefchen, Op. 9, No. 4: Im Volkston, herzlich und innig – mässig langsam— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: 4 Lieder des Abschieds, Op. 14: No. 1, Sterbelied— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: 4 Lieder des Abschieds, Op. 14: No. 4, Gefasster Abschied— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: Sonett für Wien, Op. 41: Festlich wie eine Hymne— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: 4 Lieder des Abschieds, Op. 14: No. 2, Dies eine kann mein Sehnen nimmer fassen— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: 4 Lieder des Abschieds, Op. 14: No. 3, Mond, so gehst du wieder auf— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: Songs of the Clown, Op. 29: No. 1, Come Away, Death— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: Songs of the Clown, Op. 29: No. 2, O Mistress Mine— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: Songs of the Clown, Op. 29: No. 3, Adieu, Good Man Devil— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: Songs of the Clown, Op. 29: No. 5, For the Rain, It Raineth Every Day— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: 4 Shakespeare Songs, Op. 31: No. 2, Under the Greenwood Tree— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: 4 Shakespeare Songs, Op. 31: No. 3, Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: 4 Shakespeare Songs, Op. 31: No. 4, When Birds Do Sing— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Korngold: 3 Songs, Op. 22: No. 3, Welt ist stille eingeschlafen— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Die tote Stadt, Act 2: Tanzlied des Pierrot (Arr. Lenaerts for Harp)— Anneleen Lenaerts
Performed by Anneleen Lenaerts
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 1: Selig sind die Liebenden— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 1: Ich weiß die Antwort nicht— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 1: Dich, der das Lachen angezündet im Lande— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 1: Ihr Menschen! Für euch hab’ ich gelebt!— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 1: Habt Frieden in der Seele!— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 1: O wüßtet Ihr, wie weh mir ist um Euch— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 1: Euer Haar muß golden sein— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 1: Du sollst vom Tod gelöst sein— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 2: Gott! Gott, du weißt, wie ich vor ihr gekniet hab’— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 2: Vater – Bist du’s selbst?— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 2: Wie redet sie? Was will sie uns sagen?— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 2: Der du in deinen alten, blinden Augen— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 3: Seht, seht, wie sie schön ist!— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 3: Im Namen Gottes sag’ ich dir— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 3: Wer sie berührt, der stirbt!!— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 3: Seht! Seht ihn! Den Toten!— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane / Act 3: Du Kind! Du liebste Frau der Welt!— René Pape
Performed by René Pape
Die Tote Stadt: Mein Sehnen, mein Wähnen, es träumt sich zurück— Hermann Prey
Performed by Hermann Prey
Die tote Stadt, Act II, Scene 3: “Mein Sehnen, mein Wähnen, es träumt sich zurück” (Fritz,…— Hermann Prey
Performed by Hermann Prey