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International Film
Music Biennial
awards its Erich-Wolfgang-Korngold Prize 2002 to Mikis Theodrakis
On June 28, 2002, in the framework of the International Film Music
Biennial in Bonn, the Erich-Wolfgang-Korngold Prize for an artistic
oeuvre relating to film music and soundtracks will be awarded for
the third time. The prize is named after the famous Viennese opera
composer ("Die tote Stadt") who, like many other European
artists, emigrated to the United States in the 1930s. There, Korngold
emerged as a major star in film music and played a decisive role in
the early heyday of Hollywood movie soundtracks.
In 2002, Mikis Theodrakis will be awarded the prize. We are thus honoring
a composer whose wide-ranging oeuvre has in exemplary manner conveyed
an artistic message which bridges the deep gap between elitist "isolated"
contemporary music and lowbrow popular culture. The Erich-Wolfgang-Korngold
Prize is thus being awarded in appreciation of the multi-faceted compositions
and exceptional breadth of Mikis Theodrakis’ outstanding oeuvre, which
ranges from an independent repertoire through to discerning music
for specific uses. The prize is also intended as recognition of the
fact that Mikis Theodrakis’ commitment to art and culture has always
been informed by a political stance and extraordinary human integrity.
Theodrakis has written over 1,000 songs, and his oeuvre also includes
symphonic music, cantatas, oratories, music for ballet, opera, and
theater, and soundtracks. His film scores reflect the highly ethical
side to his political and creative work and feature milestones in
the history of film and film music, for example the music for "Zorba
the Greek" (together with Michalis Cacoyannis) or for "Z"
(together with Costa Gavras).
The Erich-Wolfgang-Korngold Prize will be presented to Mikis Theodrakis
on June 28, 2002 in the framework of a festive gala evening. We are
very honored that the composer will himself be in Bonn to receive
the prize. The award ceremony will be accompanied by a cultural program
and by concerts, film series, and panel discussions on the fundamental
characteristics and key ideas in Mikis Theodrakis’ artistic oeuvre
and soundtracks.
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