Hindemith: Das Marienleben (1948 Version)

Featuring

Rachel Harnisch
Jan Philip Schulze
Paul Hindemith

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Performer Biography

Rachel Harnisch, the soprano on this recording, has performed Das Marienleben multiple times, including at the prestigious Lucerne Festival.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Hindemith initially described Das Marienleben as 'the best things I have yet written' to his publisher, despite later revising it extensively.

Composer Biography

Paul Hindemith, the composer, was one of the 20th century's most versatile musicians, active as a composer, violist, violinist, conductor, and teacher.

Composition History

Hindemith's song cycle Das Marienleben (The Life of Mary) is based on a poetic cycle by Rainer Maria Rilke, a German poet.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Das Marienleben marks a key stylistic transition in Hindemith's work, moving from Expressionism to neo-classicism.

Composition History

Hindemith began composing Das Marienleben in June 1922 and completed its first version in July 1923.

Composition History

Hindemith spent two and a half decades painstakingly revising Das Marienleben, sometimes changing individual songs up to 20 times, completing the final version in 1948 while in exile in the United States.