As an animal lover, I’ve always had a soft spot for St. Francis of Assisi. (Also, I was fortunate enough to visit his hometown before the devastating earthquakes of 1997.)

On this date in 1938, Paul Hindemith’s ballet “St. Francis” was given its first performance at Covent Garden, London, with the Ballet Russe of Monte Carlo and the composer conducting. Léonide Massine was the choreographer.

Hindemith and his wife had recently visited the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, the largest Franciscan church in the world. He was so impressed with the Giotto frescoes there, which adorn the Bardi Chapel, that he determined they would form the basis for his ballet.

Just as the familiar “Mathis der Maler” Symphony was derived from episodes from Hindemith’s opera of the same name, the symphonic suite “Nobilissima Visione” was drawn from episodes in “St. Francis.” The result is one of Hindemith’s most luminous scores.

Here it is with the composer conducting:

More about the frescoes:

http://www.artble.com/artists/giotto_di_bondone/paintings/bardi_chapel_frescoes