Paul Hindemith's Cardillac

[Written back on October 20, 2010, but what the heck.]

I am always excited to read about stagings of important but little-performed 20th century operas, so the news that the Vienna State Opera is having a hit with Paul Hindemith's Cardillac, based on a story by the German Romantic writer E.T.A. Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann), is very welcome. The third link below has an extensive selection of photographs of the production.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ge0eZrR5N1aDN9S9rw2qTlE2_RWQ?docId=CNG.39d86b87288610357aedef0bdb96a13e.d81

http://www.france24.com/en/20101019-cardillac-rings-new-era-vienna-state-opera

http://opera.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_Dress_rehearsal_of_Hindemiths_opera_Cardillac_in_Vienna_20101013

I have not yet heard Cardillac, although there are several recordings (including one with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in the lead) and even a couple of DVD performances (I'm really just starting to catch up with the whole opera-on-DVD category). But I became acquainted a few years ago with another major Hindemith opera, The Harmony of the World, in a CD performance on the Wergo label led by conductor Marek Janowski, and I was blown away by it. Hindemith has long been a particular favorite of mine, and although his reputation as a great modern composer is secure, I seldom come across a real fan, which is too bad. He is the equal of a Prokofiev, with whom he in fact has some affinities.