Hindemith Prize of the City of Hanau
Christoph Eschenbach has been one of the outstanding interpreters of the works of Paul Hindemith for many years. For the occasion of the award presentation, he has had the following statement sent to us:
My Life with Paul Hindemith
Hindemith has been accompanying me since my childhood days, my early youth. At the age of 14 I conducted a small ensemble playing the children’s opera Wir bauen eine Stadt (for Deutsche Grammophon!). I then studied and played his three piano sonatas. Later, during my years in Zurich, I discovered many instrumental sonatas with piano, including those for wind instruments, with musicians of the Tonhalle Orchestra.
A highlight in my life was my production of Mathis der Maler at the Paris Opera; another was a “Grammy” with Hindemith works, and yet another was the Requiem When Lilacs Last in the Door-Yard Bloom‘d with the Washington National Orchestra and Choir – and the greatest highlight will be: being awarded the Hindemith Prize of the City of Hanau.
Christoph Eschenbach