Korngold conducting the Warner Brothers orchestra at a soundtrack recording session

Like Frederick Delius, Erich Wolfgang Korngold was an "apostle of romance, emotion, and beauty in music."  But add to this a hearty dose of heroics!  He wrote exquisite scores for such classic films as THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, THE SEA HAWK, and KINGS ROW, and also left a sizeable body of works for the concert hall and stage. Korngold's influence can be heard in the music of today's film composers such as John Williams and Alexander Courage.

Charles Gerhardt's recordings of Korngold for RCA in the 1970's (produced by George Korngold, the composer's son) began a Korngold renaissance that continues today.  Varese Sarabande has released a number of new digital recordings, and Marco Polo has included him in its recent soundtrack series.  Now available - digitally restored - are original soundtrack recordings conducted by the composer himself. Rhino has released a 2 CD collection of "Korngold Conducts Korngold", and the German TSUNAMI label has released several complete original soundtrack CD's. The four-volume CD series of Korngold's orchestral works (conducted by Werner Andreas Albert on the CPO label) has been re-released as a combined set at a discount price.  More Korngold product is sure to follow - more to look forward to!

 

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BOOKS ABOUT KORNGOLD:

All Korngold enthusiasts should read these  books about Korngold:

"THE LAST PRODIGY: A Biography of Erich Wolfgang Korngold" by Brendan Carroll (ISBN 1574670298)

The definitive biography, published in Korngold's centenary year of 1997.

IMPORTANT UPDATE:
Sign the online petition to have THE LAST PRODIGY re-released by Amadeus Press!

"ERICH WOLFGANG KORNGOLD" by Jessica Duchen (ISBN 714831557)
A beautifully produced book with many unusual pictures, printed on deluxe stock.

"THE COMPOSER IN HOLLYWOOD" by Christopher Palmer (ISBN 714529508 (paper) / 714528854 (cloth))
One of the nine chapters is devoted to Korngold and his film music.  Palmer also wrote "Delius: Portrait of a Cosmopolitan".

KORNGOLD'S "THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD"
(A Scarecrow Press Film Score Guide by Ben Winters) (ISBN 0810858886)

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KORNGOLD DVDs:

"Erich Wolfgang Korngold: The Adventures of a Wunderkind"
(A Portrait and Concert)
Arthaus 100-363  (Released April 2003)

This is an INDISPENSIBLE purchase for all Korngold fans!    The "Portrait" is a fine documentary about Korngold, with interviews, film, archival recordings and several performances by Korngold himself.   A special word of thanks to the Korngold family for making available the home movies, photographs, and audio tapes in their archives.    The "Concert" includes complete performances of the Cello Concerto and Violin Concerto, along with excerpts from other works.    Since DVD's often go out of print rather quickly, act soon to acquire this essential DVD.

"HOLLYWOOD COMPOSERS: KORNGOLD"
Encore DVD 2910 (available from Berkshire Record Outlet)

This is a limited pressing DVD-R containing the BBC TV program which focuses on Korngold's score for the film "DECEPTION" and the Cello Concerto that figures in the film.    Rare film clips and home movies of Korngold are included.    There is also substantial material on Felix Slatkin, Eleanor Slatkin and the Hollywood String Quartet.   The Cello Concerto is performed by Frederick Zlotkin with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin.

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"THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD"
RELEASED ON DELUXE 2 DVD SET (2003)

Features of interest relating to Korngold:
 

• Digitally restored soundtrack
• Option of viewing film with MUSIC ONLY (no dialogue or sound effects)
• Korngold segment in documentary about the making of the film
• Korngold piano session with musical excerpts from 9 films
• Radio broadcast which included Korngold's music

More information and reviews of this DVD (Amazon)

Review of the new Marco Polo CD release from "Music From the Movies" site

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KORNGOLD VIDEOS ON "YOUTUBE"

From "Give Us This Night" (1935) (featuring Jan Kiepura and Gladys Swarthout):

• Opening credits / Sorrento Song / Fisherman's Song
  
• My Heart and I
  
• My Love and I
  
• Romeo and Juliet scene (with Alan Mowbray)
  
• I Meant To Say I Love You
  
• Music In The Night
  
• Sweet Melody Of Night

From "Escape Me Never" (1946): Ballet Sequence

From "Das Wunder Der Heliane":

• Aria (Rene Fleming)

• "Ich soll ihn niemals" (Rene Fleming)
• The Letter (Rene Fleming)
  

• "Marietta's Song" (Anna Sofie Von Otter)
• Aria (Thomas Hampson)
  

Violin Concerto:

• 1st Movement (Philippe Quint)
• 2nd Movement (Philippe Quint)
• 3rd Movement (Mariana Todorova)
  

KORNGOLD LINKS:

Korngold: A Selective Discography

Biography and Works List

"COMPOSING FOR THE PICTURES"
An Early Interview with E. W. Korngold (from ETUDE Magazine, January 1937)

Quotations BY Korngold

Quotations ABOUT Korngold

Erich W. Korngold Site - A robust and growing fan site including reviews, interviews, discography, articles and much more.

bs magazine- Erich Wolfgang Korngold - Outstanding! Biography, works list, bibliography, links, and discography, including reviews of the outstanding Tsunami CD releases of the original soundtrack recordings conducted by Korngold

Claude Torres' Korngold site - Discography with many images: covers of videos, LPs and CDs, plus movie posters

"FILM MUSIC ON THE WEB" SITE - Excellent British site with extensive information on film music

• Korngold news: books and recordings
• Index page to Korngold CD reviews

 

Elizabeth's Erich Wolfgang Korngold Page - Great site featuring lots of sound clips!  (not updated since 2005)

1999 Stamp Program - Hollywood Composers (9/15/99) - U.S. Postal Service site
 

• First day issue letter with stamp
• First day postcard 1
• First day postcard 2
• First day postcard 3
• First day postcard 4
• First day postcard 5
• First day postcard 6 (hand-painted Robin Hood design)
  
• Korngold featured on Postal Commemorative Society's "Salute to Immigrants"

"Composer's Datebook" commemorates the premiere of "The Adventures of Robin Hood" on May 12, 1938
        (go to this page and scroll down to MAY 12 for the Korngold entry and sound file)

KORNGOLD: Another Dawn / Escape Me Never - Marco Polo CD

Varese Sarabande Records - Issuer of many Korngold soundtrack CD's

Erich Wolfgang Korngold - Excellent 2 CD set of original soundtrack excerpts on Rhino

Screen Archives Entertainment - Good source for Korngold soundtrack CDs

TSUNAMI film soundtrack releases (Germany):

• Some may be available from Crochet UK

Farewell, Vienna! - Live theatrical production about Korngold

Great Performances: The Hollywood Sound - PBS television program about Hollywood composers

KORNGOLD SHEET MUSIC:

• "LOVE FOR LOVE" (from "Escape Me Never")
• "MY LOVE AND I" (from "Give Us This Night")
• "I MEAN TO SAY I LOVE YOU" (from "Give Us This Night")
  
• "TOMORROW" (from "The Constant Nymph")     
  
• Two Piano Pieces from "Much Ado About Nothing"
• "Don Quixote":    Cover   /   Table of Contents   /   First page

KORNGOLD AUTOGRAPHS AND MEMORABILIA:

• Autographed calling card - Front
• Autographed calling card - Back
• Autograph - Christmas Card 1947
• Autograph - Die Tote Stadt
• Autograph (1933) - quotes themes from 4 operas (Ring, Violanta, Stadt and Heliane)
  
• Autograph - Kings Row Theme
• Autographed postcard
• Manuscript page from "Juarez" film score       Back of page
  
• Postcard (1911)
• Postcard (1920)
• Artist's caricature
• Program for "Violanta" at the Metropolitan Opera
• Poster for "Der Schneeman" pantomime
• "Die Tote Stadt" - First Edition Score (1920):      Cover  /  Title Page  / Facsimile Autograph
• Letter to a fan club (April 6, 1938)
• Letter to Tony Thomas (January 26, 1951)
• Letter to Tony Thomas (Feb. 25, 1951)
• Christmas card to Tony Thomas (1951)
• Letter to Tony Thomas (Feb. 24, 1952)
• Letter to Tony Thomas (August 1, 1954)
• Christmas letter to Tony Thomas (1956)
• Letter to Tony Thomas (date?)
• Thank you note to Tony Thomas

PHOTOGRAPHS:

• 1920's portrait
  
• Korngold with Basil Rathbone at recording session for radio broadcast of "The Adventures of Robin Hood"
• Korngold at the piano     Larger photo      Larger photo (autographed)
• Recording "The Constant Nymph"
• Candid shot of Korngold in Venice with Joan Fontaine in 1949
• Late 40's portrait
  
• Korngold with Alan Badel on the set of "Magic Fire" (1955)
• Korngold newspaper obituary (1957)
  

RARE LP COVERS:

• "MAGIC FIRE" (1955 film with music by Richard Wagner, arranged by Korngold)
• "KORNGOLD PLAYS AND CONDUCTS KORNGOLD"
• "Waltzes of Vienna" (J. Strauss, arr. by Korngold and others)
• CD longbox - Korngold conducted by A. Newman
• UK release of a Korngold LP conducted by Charles Gerhardt (RCA GL-43446)
• Mischa Elman Plays Korngold's "Much Ado About Nothing" (London LL-1467)
  
• "Adventures of Robin Hood" - Varese LP cover
• Kubalek piano album LP cover (Citadel)
• Kubalek piano album LP cover (GENESIS GS1055)
• "Kings Row" - Chalfont SDG-305 (Japan LP)
• Lionel Newman autographed Korngold LP cover (Warners WS-1438)
• Piano Film Scores (Citadel 7010)
  

POSTERS FROM "THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD" and "CAPTAIN BLOOD"

0    /   1  /  2  /    3  /   4  /   5  /   6   /   7  /    8  /   9

Early magazine article about musical prodigies (including Korngold)

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KORNGOLD PIANO SCORES
 

In the 1980's, Warner Brothers Music published several volumes of Korngold soundtrack music arranged for piano in their "Classic Film Scores" series. You may be able to find these in a sheet music store or through your local library's interlibrary loan program.

"Deluxe Classic Film Scores for Piano" (PF0623) - This 120 page collection includes the following piano arrangements:
    Steiner: Gone With The Wind - Suite
    Tiomkin: Giant
    Korngold: The Adventures of Robin Hood - Suite
    Korngold: Captain Blood - Suite
    Korngold: Kings Row - Suite
    J. Williams: Superman - Suite

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