Half a century ago, Paul Hindemith was among the most popular 20th century composers. Nowadays, the dryness of his chamber music -- played more often than his larger works -- puts some listeners off, but he's due for a revival. This release marked conductor Marin Alsop's first recording with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, and it may be just the ticket. She opens with music from two early one-act operas by Hindemith that absolutely cannot be described as dry, and indeed, the recording may make producers want to ...
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Half a century ago, Paul Hindemith was among the most popular 20th century composers. Nowadays, the dryness of his chamber music -- played more often than his larger works -- puts some listeners off, but he's due for a revival. This release marked conductor Marin Alsop's first recording with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, and it may be just the ticket. She opens with music from two early one-act operas by Hindemith that absolutely cannot be described as dry, and indeed, the recording may make producers want to stage these rarely seen works. Nusch-Nuschi (the title means "Nuts-Nuts," and the word has exactly the same connotation as in English) can only be described as a Burmese sex comedy, and Sancta Susanna, Op. 21, is a grim tale of sexual repression set in a convent. Both of these works are categorized as part of Hindemith's expressionist period, but his crisp, slightly humorous personality is evident, even in the latter work, and Alsop's readings crackle with energy. The program closes...
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