Hindemith: Orchestral Works

Paul Hindemith (Composer), Herbert Blomstedt (Conductor), San Francisco Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
• Conductor: Herbert Blomstedt
• Composer: Paul Hindemith
• Audio CD (March 9, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0000C6IW2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,540 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #13 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Forms & Genres > Variations
  • #20 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Strings > Viola

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, September 11, 2005

By 

S. Greer (Tallahassee, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hindemith: Orchestral Works (Audio CD)

The Trio series is unquestionably, along with EMI's Gemini sets, one of the best available. This particular item is a complete set of Hindemith's orchestral works, and not only do we get full servings at over 60 minutes per CD, but you get fantastic performances as well. These Blomstedt SFSO/Leipzig Gewandhauser recordings were originally issued at full price on Decca, and when one hears them one can tell why. The orchestras sound transparent and lovely, and Blomstedt doesn't force the music, which works perfectly and is an approach strangely similar to the best interpretations of Mozart. Emotion is given its full due: I challenge you to find a single phrase here that is either too boistrous or too grim. The recording quality is amazing - so fine, in fact, that the captured sonics themselves are a significant bonus to the set. And the price! To pay, Melville wrote, is the worst affliction the two orchard thieves inflicted upon us. Luckily for you and me, the price is small - and the music is worth a hundred times the price to boot. Get it without hesitation.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Hindemith from Blomstedt, September 2, 2007

By 

T. Swensen "timswen" (S.F. Bay Area) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hindemith: Orchestral Works (Audio CD)

Blomstedt has a very natural way with Hindemith's music,
and the playing in this set is very good. I will add that
Decca's recorded sound in San Francisco's Davies Symphony Hall
is first rate, and better than one might expect of the
period before its sonic renovation.

My review will focus on the two discs recorded in San Francisco.
The orchestral playing of the San Francisco Symphony achieves a
very high standard. Out of interest, I listened back-to-back to
the recordings of Nobilissima Visione from this set and from
the mid 1960s recording by the Chicago Symphony under Martinon.
Across the board, the SFSO plays at least as well, if not better.
This is not to take anything away from the Chicago recording, which
sounds great in its latest RCA remastering.

The present set is favored by beautiful solo viola playing from
Geraldine Walther, one of the stars of the string section. Blomstedt's
direction in these works feels entirely natural. Tempos are exciting
yet not excessively slow or fast. Articulations and ensemble in the
orchestra are precise.

It is the Mathis der Maler symphony that makes this set a must-buy,
however. The heroic trumpet playing of Glenn Fischthal and some very
strong work by the trombones carry the piece to a vigorous and
exciting conclusion. After comparing the two versions of Nobilissima,
it's evident that Fischthal has the sound of the CSO's long-time
principal trumpet Adolph Herseth in mind in this repertoire.

Precise, exciting, and stirring playing on every level.

Highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blomstedt's Superlative Hindemith Cycle, June 9, 2009

By 

J. Rich - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hindemith: Orchestral Works (Audio CD)

Herbert Blomstedt and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra have a great history together. It was this very conductor and orchestra that turned in the critically acclaimed Nielsen symphony cycle. That landmark set, which still sells very well today, sparked my initial interest in Blomstedt's conducting. His Hindemith cycle, like the Nielsen, is also highly acclaimed and with good reason: it's intense, beautiful, full of glory, and emotionally riveting from start to finish. The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and Gewandhausorchester Leipzig turn in top-notch performances in addition to the conducting from Blomstedt.

Hindemith's music is not performed much. I'm not sure why, but I know it takes virtuosic musicians to play his music. His music is the pinnacle of Neo-Classicism along with Stravinsky. They created a totally new style where counterpoint plays a more prominent role in the music. Both composers are an important link to 20th Century classical music.

This music is lean, mean, and runs like a well-oiled machine thanks to Blomstedt. If you're a fan of this composer's music, then this set is pretty much self-recommending, but if you're new to Hindemith, then this is a great place to start exploring.

Also of particular note, check out Yan Pascal Tortelier and the BBC Philharmonic's recordings of Hindemith on the Chandos label. He performs some works that haven't been recorded much like "Pittsburgh Symphony," "The Four Temperaments," "Symphony in E flat," and "Symphonic Dances." This is an excellent cycle as well.