Search - Paul Hindemith, Herbert Blomstedt, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra :: Hindemith: Orchestral Works

Beautiful

S. Greer | Tallahassee, FL | 09/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Not really a review, just filling in missing information

Matthew Vaughan | Palo Alto, CA United States | 08/01/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a compilation of 3 discs previously released separately, all conducted by Blomstedt and highly rated by critics.



Disc 1 (with San Francisco Symphony):

Mathis der Maler symphony (tracks 1-3)

Trauermusik for viola and strings (track 4)

Symphonic Metamorphoses on Themes of Carl Maria von Weber (tracks 5-8)



Disc 2 (with San Francisco Symphony):

Konzertmusik for brass and strings (tracks 1-2)

Der Schwanendreher (viola concerto) (tracks 3-5)

Nobilissima Visione suite (tracks 6-8)



Disc 3 (with Gewandhausorchester Lepizig):

Symphonie Serena (tracks 1-4)

Symphonie "Die Harmonie der Welt" (tracks 5-7)"

Superb Hindemith from Blomstedt

T. Swensen | S.F. Bay Area | 09/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."