Erich Wolfgang Korngold was born on May 29, 1897, in Brünn, Austria-Hungary (now Brno, Czech Republic), into a Jewish family. He was a child prodigy, recognized for his extraordinary musical talent from a young age. His father, Julius Korngold, was a prominent music critic, which provided Erich with a rich musical environment. By the age of eight, he was already composing original works, and his early compositions were privately published by his father in 1909.

Korngold's ballet "Der Schneemann" (The Snowman), composed when he was just 11, became a sensation in Vienna. His early education included mentorship from renowned composer Alexander von Zemlinsky, following a recommendation from Gustav Mahler, who declared the young Korngold a genius. His Piano Sonata No. 2 in E Major, composed at age 13, was performed throughout Europe by the pianist Artur Schnabel.

Korngold's operatic career began with the successful premieres of his one-act operas "Der Ring des Polykrates" and "Violanta" in Munich in 1916, conducted by Bruno Walter. His opera "Die tote Stadt" (The Dead City) premiered in 1920 in Hamburg and Cologne, earning him international acclaim. During the 1920s, he also re-orchestrated operettas by Johann Strauss II and became a professor of music at the Vienna State Academy by 1931.

With the rise of the Nazi regime, Korngold moved to Hollywood in 1934 at the invitation of director Max Reinhardt to score films, beginning with "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1935). He became a pioneer of the symphonic film score, contributing significantly to the development of cinematic music. His work on films like "Captain Blood" (1935) and "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938), for which he won an Oscar, solidified his reputation in Hollywood.

Korngold composed 16 film scores, earning two Oscars and several nominations. His style, characterized by the use of leitmotifs and the integration of operatic techniques, influenced the future of film music. Despite his success in Hollywood, he continued to compose concert music, including his Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35, which incorporated themes from his film scores.

Korngold became a U.S. citizen in 1943. He passed away on November 29, 1957, in Los Angeles, California. Though his late-Romantic style fell out of favor after his death, a resurgence of interest in his work began in the 1970s, leading to a renewed appreciation of both his film and classical compositions.