Paul Hindemith
Symphonie in Es
NDR Sinfonieorchester
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor
Listen to samples on selected tracks.
Ondine's successful Paul Hindemith (1895-1963) recordings with the NDR Sinfonieorchester conducted by Christoph Eschenbach continue with another release featuring two major symphonic works by the composer: Symphonie ‘Mathis der Maler' and Symphonie in Es.
The orchestra's and Christoph Eschenbach's previous Hindemith release together with Midori won a Grammy Award in 2014.
The ‘Mathis der Maler' Symphony is based on an opera that treats the life of the Renaissance painter Mathias Grünewald. Hindemith started to work on the symphony already prior to the completion of the opera. The symphony was premiered with great success by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Wilhelm Furtwängler on 12 March 1934. This performance was the last premiere of an orchestral work by Hindemith in Germany before the National Socialist regime issued a general performance prohibition applying to his works in 1936.
Hindemith wrote his Symphonie in Es during his exile in the United States in 1940. The Symphony is absolute music in the tradition of the four-movement symphony of Beethoven and the romantic period. The work was premiered by Dimitri Mitropoulos who wrote to the composer: "The performance of your symphony was for me one of the highest artistic moments of my career."
Sleeve notes in English and German
Performed with great nobility and considerable eloquence (...). Superbly done.
Tim Ashley, Gramophone, November 2015
In the summer of 1945, as Germany lay in ruins, an officer of the British occupying forces, together with the German conductor Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt, went in search of musicians for a new radio symphony orchestra in Hamburg. The first public concert was presented a few months later, and - as an American newspaper later wrote - "the old world's youngest major orchestra" was born. The NDR Symphony Orchestra quickly rose to become an important representative of German musical life after the Second World War. Since then, numerous concert tours have taken the orchestra to the world's most prestigious concert halls. Christoph von Dohnányi assumed the position of Chief Conductor at the beginning of the 2004-2005 season. At the same time, Alan Gilbert was appointed Principal Guest Conductor. The NDR Symphony Orchestra is the resident orchestra of the future Elbphilharmonie.
Paul Hindemith
Midori, violin · NDR Symphony Orchestra · Christoph Eschenbach, conductor
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