Hans Huber - Early Works for Orchestra, Two Serenades

[Justin]

To be released next week by our friends at Schweizer Fonogramm: https://www.schweizerfonogramm.com/en/cd/hans-huber-1852-1921-early-works-for-orchestra-and-a-world-premiere-recording/



A Comedy Overture, Op. 50 (1879)
Serenade No. 1 "Summer Nights" in E major, Op. 86 (1884)
Serenade No. 2 "Winter Nights" in G major (1895)
Roman Carnival (1879) - World Premiere Recording

[Alan Howe]

Yes, really good news. A label we should all support if at all possible.

[Justin]

In this short silent film on a bridge in Basel in 1896, the first figure on the right at 8 seconds is Hans Huber:

https://vimeo.com/327244886

[Martin Eastick]

I will certainly be supporting this release!

[Alan Howe]

More details here:
https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/hans-huber-serenaden-nr-1-e-dur-op-86-sommernaechte-nr-2-g-dur-o-op-winternaechte/hnum/11155237

[adcsound]

Dear friends,

Tomorrow (Februar 11th) you'll have the opportunity to listen to one of the tracks of this production. Eine Lustspiel-Ouvertüre op.50 will be broadcast by the SRF.

https://www.srf.ch/audio/ch-musik/berg-und-tal-und-darueber-hinaus?id=12323131

I hope you'll enjoy it!

Salutations de Berne,

Fred.

[Alan Howe]

Thanks, Fred. I am greatly looking forward to hearing this recording.

[adcsound]

Dear friends,

Next week (25.02.2023), other tracks from this production will be broadcast by the SRF.

https://www.srf.ch/audio/ch-musik/eine-grosse-nachtmusik?id=12333505

Salutations de Berne,

Fred.

[Alan Howe]

Thanks! My order is now in!

[Alan Howe]

My copy has now arrived from the label's webshop, accompanied (as usual) by a kind message from Graziella Contratto.

The CD is absolute joy from start to finish - really beautiful, inspiriting music which will have you smiling with enjoyment. The performances are suitably sensitive, polished and alert to the music's lyrical flow. The recording is duly sonorous and expertly balanced. Very fine indeed.

I suppose the idiom is basically what one might expect from Huber - conservative, but never predictable, with melodies galore. The major work here is clearly the roughly 27-minute 2nd Serenade dating from 1895 which has all the freshness of the 1st, but a more developed sense of style and greater variety of mood and expression. This in particular should be more widely played and known - it would be a great showpiece for any orchestra.

Everyone should have this CD in their collection. File it under 'Sheer Enjoyment'!

[eschiss1]

I think one work here has been recorded before, the first serenade (in Adriano's recording on Sterling). I wonder how the recordings compare... (edit: ah, I think one or both of the overtures were also part of the same symphony recording project, my mistake, so that would make two or three works...)

[adcsound]

I think one work here has been recorded before, the first serenade (in Adriano's recording on Sterling). I wonder how the recordings compare... (edit: ah, I think one or both of the overtures were also part of the same symphony recording project, my mistake, so that would make two or three works...)

There is a "Huber" box set on Sterling, recorded by the Stuttgarter Philharmoniker under Jörg-Peter Weigle.

You'll find in this box the Lustspiels-Ouvertüre op.50 and the Serenade Op.86.

Personally I find that the recordings in this box set were made too quickly and the quality of the orchestra playing and intonation leaves something to be desired. But of course, it's just my opinion.

There are a few versions of "Winternächte" available on the internet and the Carnival is a world premiere.

Fred.

[Alan Howe]

I'd say that the 2nd Serenade is one of the finest works of its type. It ought to be in the standard repertoire.

[eschiss1]

My mistake, apologies!

[adcsound]

This production is on the Longlist for the SchallplattenKritik award.

https://www.schallplattenkritik.de/bestenlisten/longlist/longlist-2-2023

Salutations de Bern.

Fred.