Korngold's second career as a successful film composer in Hollywood, where he won two Oscars, began when Max Reinhardt invited him to California to re-orchestrate Mendelssohn's music for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
Composer Biography
Erich Wolfgang Korngold, born in 1897, was a musical prodigy who, by age 13, had already composed an impressive array of works across most musical genres.
Critical Reception
The premiere of Das Wunder der Heliane in 1927 received overwhelmingly enthusiastic critical reactions, though some noted Korngold's music did not align with contemporary 'modern' styles.
Compositional Technique
Korngold's Das Wunder der Heliane shifted stylistically during its composition, moving from grand opera towards oratorio, especially in the third act with its animated mass crowds.
Historical Context
The relative failure of Das Wunder der Heliane was partly due to Korngold's father, Julius Korngold, who, as a critic, campaigned against 'new music' like Ernst Krenek's jazz opera and influenced its reception.
Composition History
Korngold dedicated his opera Das Wunder der Heliane to his wife, Luzi von Sonnenthal, as its composition coincided with their marriage.
Composition History
Korngold's father, Julius Korngold, a prominent music critic, used his influence to secure a state commission for his son's operas, ensuring Erich would not be conscripted into World War I.
