Erich Wolfgang Korngold (May 29, 1897 – November 29, 1957) was an Academy Award-winning 20th century film and romantic music composer. Born in an assimilated Jewish home in Brno, Austria-Hungary (now the Czech Republic), Erich was the son of the music critic Julius Korngold. He studied music under Alexander von Zemlinsky and Robert Fuchs. Gustav Mahler, upon meeting the young Erich, called him a "musical genius." Richard Strauss also spoke very highly of the youth. During his early years Korngold also made live-recording player piano music rolls for the Aeolian Duo-Art system, all of which survive today and can be heard.
He had success in Europe with his opera Die tote Stadt (1920), [...]
