Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957) was an Austrian-born composer, pianist and conductor, celebrated as a prodigy before becoming one of Hollywood’s great film composers. Born in Brno and raised in Vienna, he astonished the musical world while still a child.

His works include the opera Die tote Stadt, chamber music, orchestral pieces, songs, film scores and the Violin Concerto. His Hollywood scores, including The Adventures of Robin Hood, helped define the sound of the symphonic film score.

Korngold’s music is lush, lyrical and harmonically rich, carrying late Romantic Vienna into the twentieth century. Even his film music has the sweep and structural confidence of opera.

Long dismissed by some for his Hollywood career, Korngold has since been recognised as a major musical voice. His best work glows with theatrical gold, but the metal underneath is strong.