Hindemith ~ Mathis der Maler - Symphonie · Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber · Nobilissima visone - Suite / The Philadelphia Orchestra · Sawallisch

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This disc brings together three of Hindemith's masterpieces dating from the 1930s and '40s, each presenting a unique take on the composer's mature style. The symphony Mathis der Maler, drawn from the opera of the same title, uses Lutheran chorales and Gregorian chant for its primary thematic material, while the ancient church modes also feature prominently in Hindemith's ballet about the life of St. Francis of Assisi, Nobilissima Visione. The Symphonic Metamophosis, on the other hand, turns a few tunes by Weber into a brilliant orchestral showpiece. Each of these pieces, then, demonstrates the composer's determination to write new music that remains in touch with the traditions of the past, and they find ideal interpreters in Sawallisch and the Philadelphia Orchestra--performances that combine New World brilliance and panache with Old World warmth and charm. A great recording, no doubt about it. --David Hurwitz

Hindemith ~ Mathis der Maler - Symphonie · Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber · Nobilissima visone - Suite / The Philadelphia Orchestra · Sawallisch, Music, Paul Hindemith, Wolfgang Sawallisch, The Philadelphia Orchestra, 20th/21st Century Ballet, 20th/21st Century Symphony, 20th/21st Century Variations, Ballet, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Orchestral, Symphonic

Hindemith ~ Mathis der Maler - Symphonie · Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber · Nobilissima visone - Suite / The Philadelphia Orchestra · Sawallisch
Average customer rating:

A great orchestra following a dull conductor

No Way!

Good Hindemith fare

Go Hollywood...!

THERE ARE BETTER HINDIMITH RECORDINGS

Hindemith ~ Mathis der Maler - Symphonie · Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber · Nobilissima visone - Suite / The Philadelphia Orchestra · Sawallisch
Paul Hindemith , Wolfgang Sawallisch , and The Philadelphia Orchestra
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002RUM
Release Date: 1995-06-13

Tracks:

Symphonic Metamorphisis Of Themes By Carl Maria von Weber: I. Allegro
Symphonic Metamorphisis Of Themes By Carl Maria von Weber: II. 'Turandot', Scherzo, Moderato
Symphonic Metamorphisis Of Themes By Carl Maria von Weber: III. Andantino
Symphonic Metamorphisis Of Themes By Carl Maria von Weber: IV. Marsch
Nobilissima Visione - Suite: I. Einleitung
Nobilissima Visione - Suite: Rondo: Massig schnell
Nobilissima Visione - Suite: II. Marsch und Pastorale: Lebhaft
Nobilissima Visione - Suite: III. Passacaglia: Feierlich bewegt
Mathis der Maler- Symphony: I. Concert Of Angels
Mathis der Maler- Symphony: II. Entombment
Mathis der Maler- Symphony: III. The Temptation Of St. Antony

Amazon.com

This disc brings together three of Hindemith's masterpieces dating from the 1930s and '40s, each presenting a unique take on the composer's mature style. The symphony Mathis der Maler, drawn from the opera of the same title, uses Lutheran chorales and Gregorian chant for its primary thematic material, while the ancient church modes also feature prominently in Hindemith's ballet about the life of St. Francis of Assisi, Nobilissima Visione. The Symphonic Metamophosis, on the other hand, turns a few tunes by Weber into a brilliant orchestral showpiece. Each of these pieces, then, demonstrates the composer's determination to write new music that remains in touch with the traditions of the past, and they find ideal interpreters in Sawallisch and the Philadelphia Orchestra--performances that combine New World brilliance and panache with Old World warmth and charm. A great recording, no doubt about it. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

A great orchestra following a dull conductor.......2006-05-22

Sawallisch's reign in Philadelphia hasn't exactly been sparkling and was marred by his ill health toward the end. But EMI gave him a fair run, and this Hindemith collection filled a hole in their catalog. It's gorgeously played and recorded, which may be enough for some. The sonics are deep and vivid, a pleasure to listen to.

It's unfortunate that the good reviews here are well written and the bad ones all but illiterate, because the naysayers are right. This is glossy but dull musicmaking, and almost any alternative will be more exciting (beginning with Bernstein, Abbado, and Blomstedt). For David Hurwitz to claim that these Hindemith showpieces have found "their ideal interpreter" is scandalous.

No Way!.......2006-02-18

as much as i wanted to like this disc, this recording is a DUD!
atlanta/levi and SFS/Bloomstedt totally outclass this poor project and the sound is pitiful as well.. i'm bewildered by the positive reiews and my advice to those posters is to go educate yourselves with some other recordings of these profound works of art!!!

Good Hindemith fare.......2005-12-12

This disk features three of the most popular symphonic works by the German composer Paul Hindemith: Mathis der Maler Symphony, Nobilissima Visione Suite, and the Symphonic Metamorphoses of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber. The first on the CD is the Symphonic Metamorphoses, an orchestrated reworking of Carl Maria von Weber's piano duets. The first of four movements is a witty allegro featuring a rugged opening, leading into a calm middle with great parts for winds, including contrabassoon, and ending the movement with brilliant full orchestration. The second movement is a scherzo based on Weber's Turandot overture, a robust march theme eventually giving way to a brassy (and somewhat jazzy) fugue, which builds into a glorious ending complete with pealing chimes. The andantino movement is of a more lyrical nature, again favoring the woodwind section, with occasional orchestral burblings and climaxes taken over by the strings. The final march, famous in its own right, opens with the famous brass motive, moving into a snappy minor march, almost conjuring thoughts of Russian militaristic themes. A more optimistic brass fanfare occurs with constantly moving orchestral voices and the movement progresses between the two ideas, eventually ending with the opening motive on the positive. Carl Maria von Weber's melodies are catchy and engaging, while Hindemith's treatments are highly imaginative and interesting. A great introduction to Hindemith's music.

The Nobilissima Visione Suite is music from a ballet on the theme of Saint Francis of Assisi. The music is more in the spiritual realm and certainly more representative of Hindemith's "sound". In three movements, the suite begins with the Introduction and Rondo, a slow introduction with strings and clarinet yields to a faster rondo with flute solo. The movement is telling of Francis' first receiving his calling. The following movement, March and Pastorale, tells of St. Francis' joining the army only to find the inhumanity of it all, a reference to Hindemith's own Nazi Germany. The opening piccolo and side drum show the militaristic, but eventually leads into an angular and disturbed jig. The movement ends peacefully with strings, oboe, and flute. The third and last movement is a passacaglia (a form where a motive repeats again and again, usually in a lower voice, like a theme and variations). The melody at first does not seem a great one, but is grows on you as the movement builds. It is from the ballet's finale when St. Francis suffers from stigmata two years before his death. A solid and stalwart tribute to a man of great faith. The music of the suite is a bit more advanced and dissonant than the Symphonic Metamorphoses, still a great work.

Hindemith's great masterpiece, Mathis der Maler Symphony, is also in three movements and taken from an opera he wrote. Again, exhibiting more advanced harmonies, Hindemith shines, however, in clever and radiant melodies. The opening movement entitled Chorus of Angels opens with thick chords over a drone of sorts, but works its way into an upbeat, happy little tune used throughout the movement. Hindemith employs fugue as well as combining the old and the new, and puts his theme through the ringer; Hindemith at his most sunny. The work becomes much more serious with the second movement, The Entombment of Jesus, which sounds to me like a solemn procession. The last 12 bars or so are the most intimate, and an ending of unusual peace and calm. The final movement is the Temptations of the hermit Saint Antony, the most diverse music we have heard thus far from Hindemith. He puts the listener through the trials and ends with the famous brass chorale into a rousing finale.

The Philadelphia Orchestra under Wolfgang Sawallisch (a pre-eminent Richard Strauss interpreter) give a new take on the music, but there is no sluggish late romanticism from Sawallisch here. Not only do all the musical voices speak well here, Sawallisch gets the most from the score and his musicians; the orchestra is on all the time and gives a brusque performance. These three works are a great representative of Hindemith's popular orchestral works, and while you can find them elsewhere (Naxos, Telarc, Bernstein on DG), I have found this disk to be a fresh look at some old favorites.

Go Hollywood...!.......2005-11-19

I am missing most of the excitement here. If you think 20th century music should be dull and boring, then this is your CD. Sorry, but this is no match, for say, the latest LA Phil recording under Esa-Pekka Salonen, which just sparkles with energy and "Drang". Just naming one recent example here. Sawallisch makes me fall asleep.

A major disappointment. Go where the exitement is: Go Hollywood!

THERE ARE BETTER HINDIMITH RECORDINGS.......2005-09-12