Search - Paul Hindemith :: Hindemith: Symphony "Mathis Der Maler"; Symphonic Metamorphoses; Violin Concerto

A definitive Violin Concerto and two superior staples

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 04/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 1962 recording of the Hindemith Violin Concerto lacks nothing to make it definitive: Ositrakh plays with total commitment, making gold out of the sometimes academic tootling of the wrok, the composer brings fervor to the podium, and Decca's sound could date from yesterday. All we need is a better piece, since the neoclassic style of the concerto seems timid and rhythmically square compared to Stravinsky's neo-classical masterpieces.



But at budget price it's hard to argue, and Abbado's early (1969) Symphonic Metamorphoses is lively and light, not at all the brash showpiece sometimes made of this work; his phrasing is often witty and dance-like. Among modern conductors, few have shown such dedication to this neglected composer. The exotic quirkiness of Hindemith's ear-catching orchestration comes through far more than in any other version I've come across. The LSO plays for Abbado with brilliance and vibrancy--a knockout. Despite a slightly metallic edginess, the detailed recording matches the performance in impact.



The program ends with Himdemith's only warhorse, the Mathis der Maler symphony--really a suite extracted from his opera--performed in 1969 by Kletzki and the decidedly unvirtuosic Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. The conductor offers a low-key interpretation, an agreeable alternative to the usual bring-down-the-roof assault. Kletzki isn't always inspired or rhythmically incisive, but his Mathis der Maler sings, and despite the mediocre execution, I was convinced. All in all, this is probably the best bargain CD of orchestral Hindemith on the market."