Symphonie in Fis

'Such self-confidence in style, such mastery of form, such individuality of expression and such harmony'. These words by Richard Strauss on Korngold’s Piano Sonata would be equally appropriate for his Symphony in F sharp. This work is a compendium of the most brilliant creations from Korngold’s American period, tinged by an unmistakable Viennese nostalgia. The forceful initial chords of the opening movement lead us into a yearning theme on the clarinet which is concluded by an eruption of the entire orchestra. Mahler and Bruckner come to mind, but everything here is completely new. The virtuoso passages in the Scherzo are interrupted by weighty horn melodies which are reminiscent of certain American imitators. In the third movement, gentle and subtle orchestrated sounds and ingenious thematic treatment propel the music into a breathtaking climax reminiscent of Straussian sonorities. The brilliant finale makes maximum demands on the orchestra, coercing all instruments into delicate and virtuoso combinations. The Symphony in F sharp is a masterwork and I hope that the time has come for one of the greatest undiscovered jewels of the 20th century. 
Pedro Halffter