Hindemith was also interested in putting contemporary life on the stage in his operas (a concept called Zeitoper), as was Ernst Krenek whose Jonny spielt auf (1927) has a jazz violinist as its hero.
Hindemith var også interesseret i at sætte moderne liv på scenen i sine operaer (et koncept man har kaldt Zeitoper) ligesom Ernst Krenek, hvis Jonny spielt auf (1927) har en jazzviolinist som sin helt.