This Erich W. Korngold disc couples the monumental Symphony in F sharp with the world première recording of a rare discovery piece, Tänzchen im alten Stil.
The 50-minute Symphony in F sharp major is Korngold’s only symphony, written in a late Romantic style. Composed between 1947-1952, it is dedicated to the memory of Franklin D. Roosevelt (who died in 1945). Dimitri Mitropoulos wrote in 1959 about this masterpiece: "All my life I have searched for the perfect modern work. In this symphony I have found it."
Tänzchen im alten Stil is an 8-minute piece which 19-year-old Korngold wrote in 1917, while doing his military service in World War I. The work fell into oblivion and was given its (supposedly) world premiere no earlier than 2007, at the Jyväskylä Festival, Finland; the performance was led by John Storgårds, who on this album conducts the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.