I was fortunate to hear a rare performance of this by Janos Starker and the Boston Symphony, led by Erich Leinsdorf, many years after leaving his position as the orchestra's principal conductor. It was paired with Strauss' "Don Quioxte," also with Starker. A remarkable program (and I prefer Hindemith to Strauss).
Interesting that you should mention Strauss. I remember once reading the following anecdote: After Strauss had heard the performance of a piece by Hindemith, he went up to the younger composer after the concert and asked him how long it had taken him to write it. Hindemith, who famously wrote extremely fast, answered, "Oh, about three days", to which Strauss replied with his usual snark, "I thought so."
![William Walton: Cello Concerto - Nicolas Altstaedt (1/2) [score + audio]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/k2h172MoTP8/mqdefault.jpg)
![Martinů: Cello Concerto No. 1, H.196 [Gabetta/Urbanski]](/img/n.gif)
I've long thought that Hindemith's inventive and original music was under-appreciated and under-performed. He should be "rediscovered" by the world.
Totally agree with you, we had enough Shostakovich and Ravel, its time to go deeper in the still underappreciated XX century.
Amen.
Hugely underrated concerto. And he does the interlocking halves trick in the second movement, just like in Symphonia Serena!
I was fortunate to hear a rare performance of this by Janos Starker and the Boston Symphony, led by Erich Leinsdorf, many years after leaving his position as the orchestra's principal conductor. It was paired with Strauss' "Don Quioxte," also with Starker. A remarkable program (and I prefer Hindemith to Strauss).
Interesting that you should mention Strauss. I remember once reading the following anecdote:
After Strauss had heard the performance of a piece by Hindemith, he went up to the younger composer after the concert and asked him how long it had taken him to write it. Hindemith, who famously wrote extremely fast, answered, "Oh, about three days", to which Strauss replied with his usual snark, "I thought so."
No1