Ouvertüre zum “Fliegenden Holländer”, wie sie eine schlechte Kurkapelle morgens um 7 am Brunnen vom Blatt spielt

Translated: Overture to the Flying Dutchman as Sight-read by a Bad Spa Orchestra at 7 in the Morning by the Well.

Two amusing things happening here.

Paul Hindemith wrote this as a comic work, which its title makes clear. Yet observe the audience. None of them even cracks a grin, which suggests they are either tone-deaf or, more charitably, not aware the piece is a send-up, and are doing their best to maintain straight faces as a virtuoso ensemble plays like a bunch of amateurs.

You decide, dear listener.