Search - Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Matthias Bamert, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra :: Korngold: Sursum Corda; Sinfonietta

Early Korngold, youth and genius

Woodland Poet | 04/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These are two rare pieces by Erich Korngold, the first Sursum Korda written by the 21 year old Korngold, and while it may be a youthful work in nature, it is not an immature work altogether. The Sinfonietta is a symphony in all but name, measuring more than 40 minutes in length. This second selection is all the more amazing since Korngold was only 14 when he wrote it. A beautiful yet light piece, it is a lilting symphony full of whimsy and wit, and reveals shades of the later work that would come to the silver screen years later in America. Korngold apparently had a firm grasp of orchestration from a very young age. This is the same genius of Korngold that later went on to Hollywood fame with his filmscores for The Sea Hawk, Robin Hood, King's Row and a host of other 1940 classics. A very enjoyable disc."