Hindemith: Mathis der Maler Symphony / Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber / Nobilissima visone Suite ~ Sawallisch

Paul Hindemith (Composer), Wolfgang Sawallisch (Conductor), Philadelphia Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra
• Conductor: Wolfgang Sawallisch
• Composer: Paul Hindemith
• Audio CD (June 13, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002RUM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #174,222 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #70 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Forms & Genres > Variations

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Essential Disc for Classical Music Connoisseurs, August 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hindemith: Mathis der Maler Symphony / Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber / Nobilissima visone Suite ~ Sawallisch (Audio CD)

This is easily one of the best recordings of the digital era. Hindemith was one of the best composers of this century, and the selections on this CD explain why: rich, accessible, and thought-provoking music that engages both the intellect and the emotions. Sawallisch gives the works a persuasive reading, providing just the right amount of bombast in the "Symphonic Metamorphosis" and an appropriatly religious tone for the "Nobilissima Visione" Suite; he manages to lay out both the complexity and simplicity inherent in the "Mathis der Maler" Symphony with grace and power. This is also an excellently engineered CD--the softer dynamics don't drop out of range when played at a normal volume, as so many digital recordings seem to. All in all, an essential disk for any serious classical music fan--and, more importantly, it is a whole lot of fun to listen to as well.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good solid Himdemith, April 1, 2000

By 

Greg Hales (Vacaville, Ca USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hindemith: Mathis der Maler Symphony / Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber / Nobilissima visone Suite ~ Sawallisch (Audio CD)

This disc that brings the 3 masterpieces of Himdemith is a good disc. Conducting is good and the orchestra plays well. It doesn't in some important moments catch fire however. This is true in the Symphonic Metamorphoses above all. The conducting tends to be slow and flaccid. The playing routine and not exciting.

There are some better versions of these works out there. One is Bernstein with the Israel Philharmonic. It was one of the best recordings Bernstein made in his last years. While Israel perhaps does not play as well as Philadelphia, they play with great excitment and comment. The other version is with Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic. Abbado almost equals Bernstein's insights and he has the BPO giving us the best played Hindemith. The BPO plays with its customary polish and excitment. In terms of orchestral playing I have not heard a Himdemith disc that equals let alone surpasses the BPO.

Sawallisch gives us good but not great Hindemith. Abbado and Bernsteim go the extra mile. Both the Abbado and Bernstein versions are on Deutsche Grammophon.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A great orchestra following a dull conductor, May 21, 2006

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hindemith: Mathis der Maler Symphony / Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber / Nobilissima visone Suite ~ Sawallisch (Audio CD)

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.