Erich Wolfgang Korngold-From Classical Music to Film Score

Erich Wolfgang Korngold was born on May 29th, 1897 in Brno and grew up in Vienna where his fame of child prodigy was approved by great masters as Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss and his compositions were interpreted for renown virtuous of the early twenty century. although Being so young Korngold's music was accepted for the public and critics and was compared with Mozart.

His composition of that time cover a wide spectrum of genre from camera music to opera, piano sonatas, symphonies and adaptations of already composed music demonstrated the flexibility and skills of the young composer to attempt almost any form and genre of artistic expression. The increase of political tension in Europe and the beginning of the persecution of Jewish accelerated his decision of move with his family to America where he helped to establish a language and method of composition to films.

His wisdom to maneuver dramatic elements, his knowledge and experience in opera and his extraordinary richness of orchestration makes his scores the landmark of the Golden Age of Hollywood alongside with Max Steiner and others European Composers.

 

Captain Blood (1935), Anthony Adverse (1936), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), The Prince and the Pauper (1937), Juarez (1939), The Sea Hawk (1940), The Sea Wolf (1941), Kings Row (1941), and Deception (1946) scores are examples of the prolific genius of Korngold to write incidental music and in my opinion are truly masterpieces that should be included more often in the programming of symphonic orchestras around the world as other great pieces of film music.