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Korngold: Complete Incidental Music / Mammel. Simon, Holst-Sinfonietta
Naxos

Korngold: Complete Incidental Music / Mammel. Simon, Holst-Sinfonietta

$19.99

Details

Composer
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Artist
Hans Jörg Mammel, Ekkehard Abele, Klaus Simon
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Feb 11, 2022
Catalog #
8573355
UPC
747313335572

About

Korngold’s greatest critical successes lay in the field of opera and in his film scores. The early sets of incidental music reflect these two elements, sharing the theatrical bravura of opera and anticipating his own later filmic techniques. The music for the Viennese production of Shakespeare’s much Ado About Nothing in 1920, heard here in full, is expressive and dramatic. Der Vampir, a psychological study of desire, seduction and greed, is rarely heard, but remains a potent example of Korngold’s instinct for directness of characterization.

“[It's] a pleasant surprise to be confronted with something completely unfamiliar…The Holst Sinfonietta performs these waltzes, flourishes and scarps of underscoring with considerable color and Schwung." -Gramophone

REVIEW:

This disc reaffirms – as if such proof were still necessary – just what a prodigious genius the young Erich Wolfgang Korngold was. The complete incidental music for Korngold’s score to Much Ado About Nothing runs to nearly fifty minutes of music brimming over with pointed musical characterisation, subtle scene-setting and gorgeous melody – all written before his twenty first birthday.

The playing of his Holst-Sinfonietta is uniformly excellent and the engineering manages to find a really effective balance between all the disparate instruments. Time and again I marvelled at the genius of Korngold’s lushly economical scoring.

A further attraction of this new disc for the Korngold completeist collector is the presence of the world premiere recording of his score to accompany Der Vampir oder Die Gejagten The Vampire or The Hunted). Written just three years later this is a fascinating score in the almost expressionist way the music instantly illuminates and comments on the drama.

The issue for the listener – especially the non-German speaking ones – is that the bulk of the music is underscoring dialogue. In this instance Cornelius Bauer (who also contributes the useful liner note) and conductor Klaus Simon have produced a concert version where a narrator explains the plot as well as performing a number of roles. Here Ekkehard Abele is the suitably dramatic narrator/voice. However, due to copyright issues the liner cannot reproduce any of the texts for the work. This is compounded by the fact that the liner briefly outlines the convoluted plot but gives no actual synopsis and no indication of which track/cue fits what part of the plot. Furthermore, it would appear that some of Korngold’s music has been lost. The score as it currently exists ends with an extended dream sequence but there are two more acts in the original play which include indications of further music cues. So what we have here is an attenuated arrangement of an incomplete score in an [potentially] unfamiliar language.

None of which sounds too enticing but this is where Korngold’s especial genius shines through. The instrumentation of Der Vampir is even smaller than Much Ado. Here he uses just flute, violin, cello, harp, piano and percussion as well as a Greek-style spoken chorus for the aforementioned dream-sequence. None of the music cues are anything like as extensive or self-contained either but goodness me they are effective. The playing here is every bit as skilled and apt as in the main work but this will remain very much an appendix to the main body of Korngold’s work.

The main value of this disc is the complete recording of Much Ado About Nothing which is immensely enjoyable. Der Vampir is valuable as a first recording and in the way it illustrates the range of Korngold’s skill especially at such a young age. The only real mystery is why such a valuable recording has sat in the Naxos vaults for nearly eight years.

-- MusicWeb International (Nick Bernard)

Tracklist 29 tracks

  1. 1 Ouvertüre 05:32
    Track
    1
    Title
    Ouvertüre
    Duration
    05:32
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  2. 2 Act I Scene 1: Kriegsmusik 00:26
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: Kriegsmusik
    Duration
    00:26
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  3. 3 Act I Scene 2: Don Juan 00:21
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: Don Juan
    Duration
    00:21
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  4. 4 Act II: Prelude, "Mummenschanz" (Hornpipe) 02:39
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act II: Prelude, "Mummenschanz" (Hornpipe)
    Duration
    02:39
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  5. 5 Act II Scene 1: Festmusik 04:43
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Festmusik
    Duration
    04:43
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  6. 6 Act II Scene 1: Benedict rätselt über Beatrice 00:31
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Benedict rätselt über Beatrice
    Duration
    00:31
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  7. 7 Act II Scene 3: Lied des Balthasar: Ihr Mädchen klagt nicht Ach und Weh 03:38
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act II Scene 3: Lied des Balthasar: Ihr Mädchen klagt nicht Ach und Weh
    Duration
    03:38
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Hans Jörg Mammel
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  8. 8 Act III: Prelude, "Gartenmusik" 07:02
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act III: Prelude, "Gartenmusik"
    Duration
    07:02
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  9. 9 Act III Scene 1: Intermezzo 02:32
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act III Scene 1: Intermezzo
    Duration
    02:32
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  10. 10 Act III Scene 3: Holzapfel und Schlehwein (Marsch der Wache) 02:31
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act III Scene 3: Holzapfel und Schlehwein (Marsch der Wache)
    Duration
    02:31
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  11. 11 Act III Scene 3: Verhaftung 00:21
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act III Scene 3: Verhaftung
    Duration
    00:21
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  12. 12 Act III Scene 4: Mädchen im Brautgemach 04:01
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act III Scene 4: Mädchen im Brautgemach
    Duration
    04:01
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  13. 13 Act IV Scene 1: Kirchenszene 00:47
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act IV Scene 1: Kirchenszene
    Duration
    00:47
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  14. 14 Act IV Scene 2: Holzapfel und Schlehwein (Reprise) 01:27
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act IV Scene 2: Holzapfel und Schlehwein (Reprise)
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  15. 15 Act V Scene 3: Trauermusik 05:47
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act V Scene 3: Trauermusik
    Duration
    05:47
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  16. 16 Act V Scene 4: Intermezzo (Reprise) 02:33
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act V Scene 4: Intermezzo (Reprise)
    Duration
    02:33
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  17. 17 Act V Scene 4: Schlusstanz 02:46
    Track
    17
    Title
    Act V Scene 4: Schlusstanz
    Duration
    02:46
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  18. 18 Act I: Meine Damen, meine Herren (Narrator) 00:25
    Track
    18
    Title
    Act I: Meine Damen, meine Herren (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:25
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Ekkehard Abele
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  19. 19 Act I: Gejagt waren sie alle! (Narrator) - Mein lieber Herr Professor - Song: Wovon sind Floh und Wanze so fröhlich und so fett? (Männchen) 03:07
    Track
    19
    Title
    Act I: Gejagt waren sie alle! (Narrator) - Mein lieber Herr Professor - Song: Wovon sind Floh und Wanze so fröhlich und so fett? (Männchen)
    Duration
    03:07
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Ekkehard Abele
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  20. 20 Act I: Das wirkte! (Narrator) 02:25
    Track
    20
    Title
    Act I: Das wirkte! (Narrator)
    Duration
    02:25
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Ekkehard Abele
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  21. 21 Act I: Aber wenigstens (Narrator) - Das soll es un zeigen! (Bruder) 01:43
    Track
    21
    Title
    Act I: Aber wenigstens (Narrator) - Das soll es un zeigen! (Bruder)
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Ekkehard Abele, Ralf Wachter
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  22. 22 Act II: Johannes seinerseits (Narrator) 01:23
    Track
    22
    Title
    Act II: Johannes seinerseits (Narrator)
    Duration
    01:23
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Ekkehard Abele
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  23. 23 Act II: Zu diesen Beiden (Narrator) 01:03
    Track
    23
    Title
    Act II: Zu diesen Beiden (Narrator)
    Duration
    01:03
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Ekkehard Abele, Hans Fuhlbom
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  24. 24 Act II: Mark aus ihren Knochen! (Männchen) 00:25
    Track
    24
    Title
    Act II: Mark aus ihren Knochen! (Männchen)
    Duration
    00:25
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Ekkehard Abele
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  25. 25 Act III: Vorher aber (Narrator) 02:39
    Track
    25
    Title
    Act III: Vorher aber (Narrator)
    Duration
    02:39
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Ekkehard Abele
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  26. 26 Act III: Ich bin euer Kutscher (Männchen, Stella, Bruder, Katzwendel, Schöne Witwe, Kleriker, Gestorbener, Flötist, Kammerrätin Amalia, Tuchfabrikant, Johannes) 01:10
    Track
    26
    Title
    Act III: Ich bin euer Kutscher (Männchen, Stella, Bruder, Katzwendel, Schöne Witwe, Kleriker, Gestorbener, Flötist, Kammerrätin Amalia, Tuchfabrikant, Johannes)
    Duration
    01:10
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Ekkehard Abele
    Ensemble
    Sprechchor der Holst-Sinfonietta, Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  27. 27 Act III: Ich will Ruhm! (Johannes, Marie, Speaking Chorus, Jünglingsgestalt) - Tanz der Grauweißen um den Feuerkreis 01:06
    Track
    27
    Title
    Act III: Ich will Ruhm! (Johannes, Marie, Speaking Chorus, Jünglingsgestalt) - Tanz der Grauweißen um den Feuerkreis
    Duration
    01:06
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Ensemble
    Sprechchor der Holst-Sinfonietta, Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon
  28. 28 Act III: Nein (Narrator) 00:43
    Track
    28
    Title
    Act III: Nein (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:43
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Ekkehard Abele
  29. 29 Act III: Coda (Narrator) 00:28
    Track
    29
    Title
    Act III: Coda (Narrator)
    Duration
    00:28
    Composer
    Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    Performer
    Ekkehard Abele
    Ensemble
    Holst-Sinfonietta
    Conductor
    Klaus Simon