Customer Reviews

Paul Hindemith: Symphony in E flat / Nobilissima Visione, Orchestral Suite / Neues vom Tage Overture

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I saw Tortelier conduct this symphony at the 1998 Albert Hall Proms in London and I loved it. It is bombastic, top quality meaty music, not at all dry, a quality so often levelled at this composer. OK, it isn't a Shostakovich or Sibelius beater but this music gets the adrenalin going in a positive manner. The suite to Nobilissima Visione is also terrific, with a highly impressive fugal finale. To wrap this disc up we get an early overture which is riotous and full of precoiousness. The recording, performance and value for money is exemplary. Good, if not great stuff!

The Symphony in E flat and Nobilissima Visione (a symphonic non-symphony) are my two favorite works by this composer. Both of these performances are outstanding, the highlight of an wonderful series by Tortelier on Chnados that he unfortunately completed without recording several important works such as the Mathis Der Mahler symphony. The old but fizzing performance of the E flat is to be preferred, but that's a quibble. If you like Hindemith, this is an essential disc. Both works have the rhythmic force, beautiful lyricism, mystery and excitement that characterize this composer's work.