Erich Korngold - Der Schneemann

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra (Matthias Bamert)
Korngold was born to a Jewish family in Brünn, Austria-Hungary (present-day Brno, Czech Republic), the second son of eminent music critic Julius Korngold. A child prodigy living in Vienna, he could play four-hand piano arrangements alongside his father at age five. He was also able to reproduce any melody he heard on the piano, along with playing complete and elaborate chords. By the time he was seven he was writing original music.
Erich played his cantata Gold to Gustav Mahler in 1909; Mahler called him a "musical genius" and recommended he study with composer Alexander von Zemlinsky. Richard Strauss also spoke highly of the youth, and along with Mahler told Erich's father there was no benefit in having his son enroll in a music conservatory since his abilities were already years ahead of what he could learn there.
At the age of 11 he composed his ballet Der Schneemann (The Snowman), which became a sensation when performed at the Vienna Court Opera in 1910, including a command performance for Emperor Franz Josef. He continued composing with great success throughout his teens. He composed a piano trio, then his Piano Sonata No. 2 in E major, which Artur Schnabel played throughout Europe.

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