Academy Award-winning composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold never set out to win an Oscar (actually, he won two and was nominated for two more besides). Far from it. If you asked him, he would tell you that he was mainly a composer of opera. However, Austria in the 1930s proved inhospitable to its Jewish population, and Korngold emigrated to the United States, specifically Hollywood, CA. Korngold would go on to score some 16 feature films, elevating the work of actors from Errol Flynn to a young Ronald Reagan.

The Sextet heard tonight is from Korngold’s formative years as a prodigy in Vienna, Austria. This work, composed at the ripe age of 19, marks the ascent of a great artist. Hailed as a genius by Gustav Mahler and supported by leading artists throughout Europe, Korngold could never have guessed his path would lead him away from the world’s musical capital and onto the silver screen.

Tasting Music 4; Scene 1; Take 1; Action!

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957)

STRING SEXTET, OP. 10 (1916)

for 2 violins, 2 violas & 2 cellos

I. Moderato - Allegro

II. Adagio. Langsam

III. Intermezzo. In gemäßigtem Zeitmaß, mit Grazie

IV. Finale. So rasch als möglich (Presto). Mit Feuer und Humor.

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Linda Kline, Viola; Stephen Miahky, violin; David Requiro, cello; Maria Sampen, violin; Meta Weiss, cello