Hindemith: Symphony 'Mathis der Maler'/Trauermusik/Symphonic Metamorphosis

Paul Hindemith (Composer), Herbert Blomstedt (Conductor), San Francisco Symphony Orchestra (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Herbert Blomstedt
• Composer: Paul Hindemith
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B0000041UH
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #202,191 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

1. Mathis der Maler, symphony (from opera): 1. Engelkonzert

2. Mathis der Maler, symphony (from opera): 2. Grablegung

3. Mathis der Maler, symphony (from opera): 3. Versuchung des heiligen Antonius

4. Trauermusik for viola (or violin or cello) & string orchestra

5. Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber, for orchestra: 1. Allegro

6. Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber, for orchestra: 2. Turandot, Scherzo: Moderato

7. Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber, for orchestra: 3. Andantino

8. Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber, for orchestra: 4. March

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

These 1987 realizations of the Mathis Symphony and the Symphonic Metamorphosis from Herbert Blomstedt and the San Francisco Symphony, marking their first recorded collaboration, are powerful, deeply felt, and thrilling to the ear. The Mathis is particularly striking in its evocation of mood: dramatic without being overblown. Blomstedt is notably successful with the score's difficult concluding movement--by making each of its episodes substantive, he makes the whole seem less episodic than it usually does. Both here and in the Symphonic Metamorphosis, there is beautiful wind and brass playing from the San Franciscans; they are clearly well rehearsed and exhibit a commendable responsiveness to Blomstedt's direction. The recording is of demonstration quality: impressive in its depth, sense of space, and visceral impact. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Hindemith, June 6, 2003

By	David A. Kemp (Plano, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you are going to own only one CD of Hindemith's music, I urge you to make it this one. The Mathis der Maler symphony (1934) and the Symphonic Metamorphoses on Themes of Weber (1943) are probably Paul Hindemith's two greatest orchestral works. The music is appealing, vital, beautifully crafted, accessible, bristling with a masculine vigor, exuberance, energy. Blomstedt is arguably the foremost Hindemith conductor of our day; these performances are expert, heartfelt, and superbly realized, displaying these two works in all their considerable glory. The sound (the recordings were made in Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, 1987) is representative of the splendid Decca/London engineering at its best; this is an exemplary modern digital orchestral recording: well balanced, with full frequency range, wide dynamic range, every detail of the inventive orchestration clearly registering. This CD has been warmly praised by critics, receiving strong recommendations in the Penguin Guide to Compact Discs and the Gramophone Classical Good CD Guide. A standout recording by any measure.

This was the first in a series of distinguished Decca/London recordings made by Blomstedt with the San Francisco Symphony, whose music director he was from 1985 to 1995. This series included a second splendid Hindemith release. Blomstedt was music director of the great Staatskapelle Dresden from 1975 to 1985, and made a distinguished series of recordings there for Denon. He is now music director of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, where he has made a third excellent Hindemith recording (also on Decca).

There is a viable, worthy budget-priced alternative to the Blomstedt CD on Sony Essential Classics, featuring the same two works, with the Mathis der Maler symphony performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy (recorded 1962) and the Symphonic Metamorphoses performed by the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell (recorded 1964). Both are very fine performances, and for those on a budget the disc can be confidently recommended. But the 1960's Columbia/CBS sound of these recordings, while perfectly acceptable, simply cannot compete with the demonstration-class sound of the Blomstedt recording, which is much richer, fuller, with greater clarity and delineation of detail.

Both CDs offer a filler, and both fillers are well chosen and entirely appropriate. In the case of Blomstedt, it's Hindemith's brief (8:38), touching Trauermusik for viola and orchestra, a piece he wrote on very short order (in six hours!) for the BBC after the death of King George V in 1936 (he played the viola part too). In the case of Ormandy/Szell, it's Walton's varied and colorful Variations on a Theme by Hindemith, a longer work (22:45) of Walton's later years (1963), played by the Cleveland Orchestra under Szell (1964). Both are attractive works, but the Walton is the more substantial.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth even scalper's prices!!!!!, September 30, 2004

By	R. Unser - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I would pay 50 dollars for this recording. I might pay more. Simply put this is the best rendition of Mathis and Symphonic Metamorphasis ever put to tape. The recording of Mathis is actually brilliant, with the brass and strings creating some of the best music ever heard on cd. I was almost in tears the first time I heard these recordings years ago. I lost my copy and have recently purchased this recording used. Again, I stress, this is the best recording of these pieces you are likely to find.
Some of the finest brass playing ever! Has an edge but never does one get a sense of the homogonized whole ever being lost... at times sounding like an organ. I would reccomend this as one of the top five recordings I have ever owned... and I own somewhere over five hundred discs. Happy hunting and good luck!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prepare to get blown away!, June 4, 2001

By	SJR (Wichita, Kansas) - See all my reviews

If you like the use of brass in orchestral works, than put this CD at the top of your list. Here is an excellent combination of brassy works, with both Mathis der Maler and Symphonic Metamorphosis included. Blomstedt holds nothing back, emotionally, and yet, the works are precisely played. Crank up the volume on March from Symphonic Metamorphosis and enjoy! This is not to take away from the rest of the performances on this CD, as the playing is stirring throughout.