Hindemith: Die Harmonie Der Welt [The Harmony of the World] [Import, Single]

Paul Hindemith (Composer), Marek Janowski (Conductor), Arutjun Kotchinian (Performer), Francois Le Roux (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Arutjun Kotchinian, Francois Le Roux
• Conductor: Marek Janowski
• Composer: Paul Hindemith
• Audio CD (March 11, 2003)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Import, Single
• Label: Wergo Germany
• ASIN: B000076I4U
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #356,332 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Like his earlier opera, Mathis der Maler, Hindemith’s 1957 Die Harmonie der Welt is an opera of ideas, dealing with such subjects as the nature of creativity, the artist/original thinker in a society inimical to new ideas, humanity’s role in the universe and the ultimate harmony of the cosmos. Heady stuff that probably accounts for its rarity– this is the first recording of the complete opera. Like its predecessor, Die Harmonie der Welt best known through the symphony Hindemith based on it. But it’s an engrossing opera full of quality music and deserves to be ranked among the composer’s masterpieces. It doesn’t lack for dramatic situations, including grave plunderings, confrontations with the high and mighty of the Renaissance like Wallerstein and Rudolf II, and the personal and intellectual strivings of its hero, the astronomer Johannes Kepler. The action travels from Prague to key central European cities, covering a time span from 1608 to 1630. And there’s an abundance of melody, dramatic fireworks, and lyric passages to make up for the lack of popular arias.

Fortunately, Die Harmonie der Welt gets a fine performance from Marek Janowski and his cast. Francois Le Roux is excellent as Kepler, singing and acting with authority, and subsidiary roles are well done and often better than that. The only flaw here is the casting of Susanna, the soprano lead and love interest with a singer who is, to be blunt, downright awful. But in the overall scheme of a 2-hour-and-40-minute opera, she inflicts minimal damage. Opera buffs, especially those attracted to accessible tonal modern operas, will want this important recording. They can be secure in the belief that it gets a worthy performance and is not likely to be rivaled for a long time to come. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At long last, March 11, 2003

By 

MARTIN SELBREDE (GEORGETOWN, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hindemith: Die Harmonie Der Welt [The Harmony of the World] (Audio CD)

Those elusive Hindemith operas! I've been waiting since 1969 for a recording of Die Harmonie der Welt (1957), collecting every recording of the 1951 symphony as a stopgap measure. An obscure monaural recording from 1960 on the Stradivarius label yields an eviscerated version of the opera (cut to half length!), but this new release on Wergo, with Marek Janowski conducting, finally does justice to the entire masterpiece. For those familiar with the symphony, there are surprises aplenty in the opera. The dissonant climax of the symphony's 2nd movement is rewritten without the jarring discords, the arco strings being switched to pizzicato to frame it, as the background to a duet between Kepler and Susanna. The final scene of the opera is the symphony's last movement "with voices added" -- which grossly understates what Hindemith has achieved here. Who'd have thought the gorgeous 3rd and 4th episodes in the passacaglia accompany an assassination! But the symphony gives only a limited glimpse into the opera, and so hearing this is a discovery finding its sole parallel in the relationship between the Mathis der Maler symphony and opera. A glorious recording reveals Janowski's preoccupation with phrasing, color, and balance. The choir is in excellent form. I question the choice of singer for the role of Kepler's wife, but I'm probably evidencing an American bias in doing so. This is an absolute must for Hindemithians of all stripes. Next stop: Hindemith's 1960 opera, "The Long Christmas Dinner."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pynchon in music: Unknown opera on Kepler is true gem!, October 2, 2010

By 

Damir Janigro "antoniojanigrodotorg" (Cleveland Hts., OH USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hindemith: Die Harmonie Der Welt [The Harmony of the World] (Audio CD)

True is that there are no famous arias here, this is not Verdi or Mozart, and not even close to Strauss (who lived at the same time). The opera is a monumental summary of Hindemith's musical genius, and a lesson in performance as well. The singers are all superb, the quality of sound and booklet are truly outstanding. Wergo took a serious risk with this 3CD set and wish them the best of luck with this set. The conductor (Mo. Janowski)catches the spirit of the work at its very beginning, and makes one feel at home after the first few minutes. We are on the streets of Prague, and the world is in turmoil expecting the sky to burst with comets. In many respects this opera is the musical analogue of Against the day by Thomas Pynchon. Both are huge efforts, with strange plots that have astronomy, time and matter as a central piece. I cannot imagine a better present for your intellectual friend, wife or kids: This opera and the book will keep them happy and entertained for many many weeks!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing Work, June 2, 2011

By 

John Gesselberty "Mahler" (Stewartstown, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hindemith: Die Harmonie Der Welt [The Harmony of the World] (Audio CD)

Hindemith's opera, "Die Harmonie Der Welt" is an amazing work that has finally been given a complete and satisfying performance on CD. If you tire of the old war horses, but still want opera that is sublime and listenable, I can highly recommend this recording. It is on a par with the more famous "Mathis der Maler" and will not disappoint.