Search - Paul Hindemith, Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Hindemith: Kammermusik No. 2, 3, 6, & 7

This collection of four of Hindemith's liveliest and most interesting works gets off to a rousing start thanks to pianist Lars Vogt's spontaneous playing. Full of fire and dash, it explodes the myth of Hindemith's "dryness." The Cello Concerto (No. 3) is distinguished by wonderfully spry orchestral contributions and cellist George Faust's command of the composer's neoclassic idiom. Ditto for the viola and organ works, as good as any of the strong competition on disc headed by the complete sets of Ensemble Modern on RCA and Chailly on London. Abbado moves to the head of the class, though, thanks to the fine engineering, his mastery of Hindemith's style, the precision of his fine band, and the way he captures the humor in these pieces. The spirit of Bach hovers in the background alongside Hindemith's spiky modernisms. Highly recommended. --Dan Davis