Nobilissima visione (The Noblest Vision) is a 50-minuteballet (or, more precisely, a "dance legend") in six scenes byPaul Hindemith, originally choreographed byLéonide Massine for theBallet Russe de Monte Carlo. The libretto by Hindemith and Massine depicts episodes from the life of SaintFrancis of Assisi. The work was completed in February 1938 and premiered atTheatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 21 July 1938, with sets and costumes byPavel Tchelitchew and under the baton of the composer. He led one performance of the new ballet at theMetropolitan Opera House in New York (for which the title was temporarily altered toSaint Francis) on 14 October of the same year.[1]
After the ballet premiere, Hindemith extracted a 20-minuteorchestral suite (retaining theNobilissima visione name) in three movements, using five of the original eleven movements:
The first performance of the suite in Venice was atTeatro La Fenice on 13 September 1938 and has become a regularly programmed orchestral work. Though the ballet was originally scored for a small orchestra, the suite was for a full symphony orchestra from the outset. The suite does not attempt to follow the action of the ballet, instead Hindemith extracted only those portions of the score which he felt would be most effective in the concert hall. Hindemith himself conducted thePhilharmonia Orchestra in a 21 November 1956stereophonic recording of the suite, which was released byEMI.
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