Herbert Blomstedt talks about Paul Hindemith’s “Mathis der Maler” (19 min.)

Every year the Swedish conductor Herbert Blomstedt is guest conductor with the Berliner Philharmoniker; his interpretations of works by Beethoven and Bruckner in particular have made unforgettable impressions on the audience. But also more rarely played, underappreciated composers like Paul Hindemith are near and dear to Blomstedt. In his introductions, both informative and entertaining, the conductor conveys to listeners an understanding of Hindemith’s symphony Mathis der Maler by explaining the work’s structure and unusual beauty. The piece was premiered by the Berlin Philharmonic in 1934 conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler; a short time later his ban by the National Socialists drove the composer into exile.