Hindemith's Symphony in E-flat (1940) ranks as one of the great symphonies of the 20th century. It has all of Hindemith's trademark richness in the strings and expressiveness in the brasses. The symphony was the first major work Hindemith completed on his arrival to the United States at the outset of the Second World War. You can hear all of Hindemith's pessimism over the war and his sadness at having to leave his native Germany. His Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, also of 1940, is classic Hindemith: deft soloist role backed by rich orchestration. Excellent and vital reissue from Everest. --Paul Cook