Korngold, Erich (Wolfgang) (1897-1957)

Austrian composer. Son of Julius Korngold (1860-1945), music critic of the Neue Freie Presse in Vienna. Through his father's influence, Korngold had his pantomime Der Schneemann (1910, orchestrated by Zemlinsky) produced at the Court Opera when he was 13. He studied with Fuchs, Grädener and Zemlinsky and was appointed conductor at the Hamburg Opera in 1919, and professor at the Vienna State Academy in 1927. After the Anschluss he emigrated to the USA, where he collaborated with Max Reinhardt at his Theatre School at Hollywood. He was successful as a writer of film music, which developed from his earlier late Romantic style.

Works Vocal operas Der Ring des Polycrates, Violanta (1916), Die tote Stadt (1920), Das Wunder der Heliane (1927), Die Katrin (1939); songs.

Orchestral incidental music to Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing (1919); film music for Sea Hawk, The Adventures of Robin Hood, etc.; Symphonietta; Symphony-overture; Overture to a play; a piano concerto for the left hand (1923); a violin concerto (1946).

Instrumental string quartet; piano trio; piano quintet; sextet; sonata for violin and piano; three piano sonatas and other works for piano.