Podcast #06: MIKLÓS RÓZSA – beyond Ben Hur #classicaldiscoveries #podcast

In this episode, we explore the fascinating life and work of composer Miklós Rózsa, focusing on his “double life” balancing film scoring and concert hall composition. Initially resistant to working in film, Rózsa went on to achieve great success in Hollywood, winning three Academy Awards for his scores to Ben-Hur, Spellbound, and A Double Life.

The hosts discuss Rózsa’s autobiography and his complex relationship with the world of film, contrasting his views with those of composers like Shostakovich, who seemed less troubled by such artistic boundaries. They delve into how Rózsa used his film work to fund his concert compositions, negotiating unique contracts that allowed him summers in Italy to focus on “serious” music.

You’ll hear excerpts from several of Rózsa’s concert works—including the energetic Overture to a Symphony Concert, the lyrical Hungarian Serenade, and the expressive Sinfonia concertante—and learn about his collaborations with legendary figures like Leonard Bernstein, Bruno Walter, Jascha Heifetz, and János Starker. Throughout, the hosts challenge long-standing biases against film composers and celebrate Rózsa’s contributions to both classical and cinematic music.

Chapters
0:21 Introduction
1:24 A Double Life
4:55 A Serious Classical Composer
7:55 Overture Op. 26a – The Recording Session
9:53 A Different Style?
10:55 The Film Career
12:01 Hungarian Serenade Op. 25
14:42 Sinfonia concertante Op. 29 (Preview)
17:08 Conclusion

💿 Featured Recording 💿

1. RÓZSA, M.: Overture to a Symphony Concert / Hungarian Serenade / Tripartita
   Label: Capriccio C5514
   🎧 Listen now: https://Naxos.lnk.to/C5514!Podcast

Hosts: Jens F. Laurson (Journalist) & Johannes Kernmayer (Producer)

Follow Capriccio:
► YouTube
► Facebook
► Instagram
► Twitter
► Website

#capriccio #podcast #MiklósRózsa #FilmComposer #ClassicalMusic #MovieScores #BenHur #Spellbound #ADoubleLife #Composer #HollywoodComposer #HungarianComposer #FilmMusic #Soundtrack #ClassicalMusicPodcast #MusicHistory #20thCenturyMusic #PodcastRecommendation #MusicLover #NewMusic