The Last Prodigy: A Biography of Erich Wolfgang Korngold

This first full-length biography chronicles Korngolds life and works from his days as a celebrated Wunderkind in imperial Vienna through his spectacular career as a composer of opera and symphonic works to his escape from and Nazis to America where he pioneered the symphonic film score and won two Oscars. The author provides a richly detailed evaluation of the composer his relationship with the Serialists his contribution to film music and his place in music history. The book draws on interviews with many great musicians singers actors writers and directors plus legendary figures from Hollywoods golden age all of whom knew and worked with Korngold. A foreword by the composers eldest son Ernst Korngold a comprehensive discography and bibliography rare illustrations and a complete list of Korngolds works make this the definitive biography of a remarkable composer.