Hindemith "Symphonic Metamorphoses"

Blomstedt's spectacular SFO recording made it to Lp, if you don't mind digital. , posted on June 3, 2020 at 07:13:12
jdaniel@jps.net	B-side: Mathis Pressed in '87, I believe.

Don't mind digital at all., posted on June 3, 2020 at 07:14:36
ghost of olddude55 Audiophile Posts: 32576 Joined: July 14, 2017	I'll look for it next time I'm out classical shopping. The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

RE: Hindemith "Symphonic Metamorphoses", posted on June 3, 2020 at 07:42:45
Dave Billinge Audiophile Posts: 1008 Location: Hampshire Joined: June 7, 2005	Agreed - great disc. The Janacek on the other side is equally fine. Another great LP of the Hindemith is Szell on CBS (in UK)which was also coupled with the Janacek. Dave

I have that Decca/Abbado recording, but. . . , posted on June 3, 2020 at 11:38:37

Chris from Lafayette
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. . . I always thought that the playing was a bit on the rough side. (Both the Hindemith and the Janacek - I still have it though.) I notice that Abbado re-made the Hindemith on DG with the BPO - what do you think of that one? (I haven't heard it myself.)

Also, I agree with jdaniel (below) about the virtues of the Blomstedt/SF performance. Also, I really enjoy the Michael Stern/KC recording on Reference. The performance may be only "decent" (LOL - it's actually more than that), but the engineering is spectacular!

Don't have the other version on DG., posted on June 3, 2020 at 12:02:29
ghost of olddude55 Audiophile Posts: 32576 Joined: July 14, 2017	Going to look for the Blomstedt next time I'm at Jerry's Records (where you can still buy classical music. The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

I've been very curious about the Stern release, (what a line up!) but try as I might, I couldn't get into his , posted on June 3, 2020 at 15:03:51
jdaniel@jps.net	Elgar Enigma or Saint Saens even after drooling over the 45 RPM deep grooves. : )

RE: Don't mind digital at all., posted on June 3, 2020 at 15:14:45
Berrell88 Audiophile Posts: 123 Location: Southeast Joined: September 23, 2004 Contributor Since: March 12, 2014	Ditto to all the suggestions. I have the Abbado, Szell and Blomstedt. Also Ormandy with Mathis der Maler on lp is quite well done.

RE: Hindemith "Symphonic Metamorphoses", posted on June 4, 2020 at 04:44:02

alc777
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I like this work a lot and since bought quite a few recordings of it. Surprisingly, I just found the one in Youtube to be my favorite! The interplay between groups of the orchestra is so wonderful.

Kubelik, BRSO, Tokyo 1965 Live - YouTube

I also listened to the Blomsted/SFSO performance on YT, the playing is excellent but I feel the Tokyo live performance has more fun.

Other than the ones that have been mentioned here, Ormandy's EMI recording will probably surprise most who was familiared with the sound of his CBS recordings. The Philadelphia Sound transformed into something like it was from the Kingsway hall. He did 4 recorings for EMI and everyone of them sounds drastically different from the CBS sound. The playing is superb (probably even better than the SFSO) but the music seems lacked a bit of "Hindemith"...

The other recordings I liked are from Suitner and Ferencsik. Suitner has all the "Hindemith" I want but the playing is not that much fun as the Kubelik/Tokyo. Ferencsik with the Brno State SO was my favorite but after I listened to the Kubelik/Tokyo, I shifted the crown. Ferencsik's Supraphon recording is of audiophile quality, great sounding. And the playing is also first rate, except the ending is bit weak. (top left of the pic below)

EMI Philadelphia Sound: very fond of Ormandy's Bartok MSPC and Mandarin, which contains my favorite "chase", posted on June 4, 2020 at 07:01:31
jdaniel@jps.net	I little more measured but those trombones, bass drum and gong brushes so atmospheric and grotesque! Ormandy's digital Also Sprach is also a sleeper IMHO as well; very intense!

RE: EMI Philadelphia Sound: very fond of Ormandy's Bartok MSPC and Mandarin, which contains my favorite "chase", posted on June 4, 2020 at 08:04:16
alc777 Audiophile Posts: 289 Location: Taipei.tw Joined: June 20, 2009	Don't quite remember how the MSP&C performed, I should go back to it again. The Also Sprach is indeed sounding terrific. However, his RCA ARL Also Sprach got a very distinct cover photo that hung around in my head.

Hindemith "Symphonic Metamorphoses", posted on June 4, 2020 at 19:20:01

vinyl survivor
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Ha! That reminds me of an orchestra I used to record. The Conductor/Music Director programmed Symphonic Metamorphoses. It was the first time they had to stop in the middle of the piece and regroup to start during a concert. An edit fixed the final recording.

Anyhow, after the concert the Executive Director said to me "What was that!" Apparently several members of the board of directors and donors hated the piece. He was relieved of his duties.

Being a brass player, I like the piece.

Funny and sad at the same time, posted on June 5, 2020 at 01:32:03
Chris from Lafayette Audiophile Posts: 26477 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012	But it's not surprising that the boards of orchestras are often filled with the most backward Philistines. Geez - The Symphonic Metamorphoses are about as mild as Hindemith ever gets!

RE: Funny and sad at the same time, posted on June 14, 2020 at 12:22:11
vinyl survivor Audiophile Posts: 1471 Location: Southeastern US Joined: November 28, 2007	I agree! Some people need to expand their musical horizons. As we know, sometimes it takes a few listenings to warm up to a piece.

Vinyl Asylum

Hindemith "Symphonic Metamorphoses"

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