Concertos / Hindemith

Hindemith's Violin Concerto is one the composer's "American" works, a long line of masterpieces composed after his emigration from Germany, where his music had been banned by the Nazi regime. There have been two famous performances of this appealing piece: David Oistrakh's, and this one. Both versions are superb, and this has the advantage of Leonard Bernstein on the podium (Oistrakh's had the composer, who was not a very good conductor). The companion piece is just as important: these are outstanding versions of two of the very finest concertos for flute and clarinet composed this century. A great disc in every respect. --David Hurwitz