For the very first time, the score of the opera Mathis der Maler in the Hindemith-Gesamtausgabe is being presented on the basis of a textual-critical revision (supported by the evidence of all 91 ascertainable sources) in modern note typesetting. The Intr
For the very first time, the score of the opera Mathis der Maler in the Hindemith-Gesamtausgabe is being presented on the basis of a textual-critical revision (supported by the evidence of all 91 ascertainable sources) in modern note typesetting. The Introduction elucidates the genesis and development of the work, the suppression of the opera in Nazi Germany, the world premiere on 28 May 1938 in Zurich and the German premiere on 13 December 1946 in Stuttgart.
In addition, Hindemith's involvement with Grünewald is outlined in the context of twentieth-century Grünewald reception by artists ranging from Beckmann, Dix and Picasso to Tübke and Baselitz. Moreover, it includes Hindemith's introductory texts in the opera and his suggestions concerning “possible” deletions, as well as his collections of material on the historical subject, his numerous sketches of scenes and scenarios, early versions of the libretto up to the printing of the first complete version of the libretto and the discussions on the subject in his correspondence with Schott Publishers.
The working-out of the music in the sketches, the piano reduction and its revisions, which were only completed in 1958, are depicted: Hindemith sketched the music in individual sections completely independently of the respective scenic sequence, hardly corresponding to their ultimate order. Their identification thus raises considerable questions, especially since Hindemith also repeatedly revised completed sections, usually for reasons pertaining to the libretto. Following the sketches, Hindemith then made the piano reduction before completing the full score. The edition calls attention to Hindemith's procedure of an “undercover manner of writing” during the Nazi period and reprints reviews of the world premiere and local premieres. Important performances of the opera are enumerated, including the concertante performance of two duets from the opera given prior to the world premiere on 16 December 1937 in Amsterdam with the Concertgebouworkest under Hindemith's direction, as well as the concertante performance of three duets in May 1960 in New York conducted by Leonard Bernstein.
The opera is being presented in the Hindemith-Gesamtausgabe in three volumes. The first volume, comprising Scenes I and II, has been available since September 2017. It contains the Introduction, the replica of the libretto, performance durations and deletions according to Hindemith's instructions as well as his introductory texts and facsimiles from pages eliminated from the autograph manuscript piano reduction. The second volume with Scenes III to V and the publication of collections of material, sketches of scenes and scenarios and the first version of the libretto will be released in January 2018. The third volume, containing the two final scenes as well as early versions of revised score pages and the critical report, will be released in the spring of 2018.
Giselher Schubert