New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-01

Erich Korngold at IS Comboses
Symphony Played in Berlin
Celebrated Philharmonic Orches-
ira Gives Work Of Youth
full Prodigy.
From the Tribune Correspondent. ]


Berlin, Feb. 1s-Richard Strauss, Sieg-
friend Ochs and Arthur Nikisch are spon-
sors for Erich Wolfgans Korngold. six
teen-year-old boy who is the sensation of
Berlin's musical world. a few days ago
his "Snfonietta" was played for the first
time by the celebrated Philharmonic Or
chestra, led by Nikisch. The 'Sinfon-
ietta" lasts forty minutes and constitutes
an ocean Of sound.
Young Korngold sat in a box with
Ochs and Strauss. The applause was so
enthusiastic that ne was Obliged to bow
his Acknowledgements from the box ana
then from the platform. The work which
is entirely novel in tone and form and
needs an orchestra Of 135 musicians. has
TO a certain extent revolutionized Ger
many's musical world, and 1t is generally
felt that In Korngold a prodigy of epoch
making Importance has arrived.
At seven years old the boy, who was
born I'm 1897, in Brunn, Austria, was al
ready a skilfu pianist, and at the age OF
eight he began composing little pieces,
waltZes and so forth, which even then
gave promise OF greater achievements.
His first instruction in composition was
under Robert Fuchs and Alexander Won
Zemlinsky, IN Vienna Indeed these two
musicians have been his only teachers.
Korngold first became known to the pub
lie at the age OF eleven through some
piano pieces which he had written, 10 wit,
4 charming ballet pantomime The Snow
man" n sonata i'm ID minor, and suit
DCA Qu'NJta.' Iater appel 'eu trio
for p.auo. !"'in and cello o.. C9o9l. =
piano sonata in Ed. 3D.. d9lO: =
grour Of plano piece "Md,chenbilder,'
Op. q. and 'Schausp.e -.t,rtute." or 4.
His ,re,.tt achevemev: tu date, No.
ever. in his "Sinfonietta" for full orchss-
tra,, Op. .. which was composed nearly
two years ago. at the age of fifteen, and
which had its first public hearing In
Vienna OH November IS, 1913. under the
direction OF Felix Weingartner.
Success has In nowise gone TO Erich
Korngold's head, as often happens TO
young musical genuses. The Tribune
correspondent in the course Of brief
| interview with MIN before the concert,
found the young composer simple. unaf-
fected, keen-witted and intelligent, withal
a boy, with an obvious love for pranks.
and, judging from the amount of cakes
and chocolates which he managed to con-
sumo in the course of a few minutes
without any undue urging Oh the part Of
an indulgent hostess. with an inordinate
fondness for sweets. Regarding himself,
Korrgold was not inclined to say much.
lie admitted that he is hard at work just
now on two operas, one serious and the
other light but would give no details He
has just finished a sonata for violin. In
cidentally he Is learning English When
asked If he did not expect TO go to Amer
lea, he replied "Surely, I 90 dere,
+ VielIeicht merit year"
His ambition IS to become a conductor
of orchestras. AS Yet he has not had an
opportunity TO realize his ambition, but
there is no doubt but he will have a
chance TO conduct his "Sinfonietta" in the
near future. This work Is shortly to be
given at AK la Chapelle. Bonn and nu-