The fortieth anniversary of the Marlboro Festival proceeds with the second installment of CD reissues, notably these wind-music recordings which have previously been available only by mail order... The Barber-Nielsen-Hindemith CD is conflated from two more MRS LP/cassette issues: Barber and Hindemith from MR/MRSC-15, Nielsen from MR/MRSC-5, respectively issued in 1983 and 1981, although the Nielsen was recorded as long ago as 1971. Samuel Barber's Summer Music, in this conscientious account, will make its whole effect upon those previous to this composer's music. The Nielsen quintet has its classicism emphasized by a quickish-tempo'd tightly phrased performance, polished and exciting, full as it should be of well-aimed instrumental characterization. Paul Hindemith's 1957-58 octet quite simply gets the best performance in its regrettably exiguous discographic history, muscular and finely focused. No wind music fancier should be without this CD.

-- John Wiser, FANFARE [1/1991]

This enterprising disc contains all of Hindemith's chamber music featuring solo cello either alone or in combination with piano. The pieces cover a wide stylistic range, from the spiky, dissonant neo-classicism of the early sonata Op. 11 No. 3, to the warmer, almost Romantic work written in 1948. The humorous variations for cello and piano on the English nursery tune "A frog he went a-courting" ought to become an encore staple of chamber recitals. A string player himself, Hindemith clearly knew how to show off the cello to best effect. Even the comparatively difficult works have a fluency and musical logic that proves compelling at first listen, and none of them overstay their welcome. A lot of the credit for this music's favorable impression belongs with the cellist, Wendy Warner. Her accurate intonation and warm, singing tone prove a constant source of delight, and she's ably partnered by pianist Eileen Buck. These two superb players demonstrate conclusively that the success of so much of Hindemith's music really depends on sympathetic performance. Bridge's sonics flatter the music and the players. An excellent disc in every respect. [11/30/1999] --David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

HINDEMITH: Mathis der Maler / Symphonic Metamorphosis

Classical Music

Live, 22 September 1957, Montreux