Hans Huber - Symphonies Nos. 4 & 8 (Jörg-Peter Weigle)

Information

Composer: Hans Huber

• Symphony No. 8 in F major
• Symphony No. 4 in A major 'Akademische'

Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra

Jörg-Peter Weigle, conductor

Date: 2006

Label: Sterling

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Review

Hans Huber’s Eighth Symphony (1921) has been compared to Beethoven’s in its similarly joyous mood as well as for its identical key of F major. Indeed, right from the impressively cohesive first movement, the work is full of buoyant, life-affirming energy (Huber said he was constantly thinking “spring thoughts” while composing it) that Huber expresses through gorgeous tunes, fetching rhythms, and colorful orchestration. Given these three qualities, it’s not surprising that Dvorák comes to mind more than once during the course of this highly enjoyable work.

If anything, Symphony No. 4 is even more interesting by virtue of its unique orchestration. Scored for string orchestra, piano, and organ, and filled with lush, romantic melodies casting about in a quasi dramatic setting, the piece has a playfully serious character reminiscent of Saint-Säens. This is especially so in the finale, a highly original construction consisting of an introduction, passacaglia, and a set of clever variations. Both works receive excellent performances by the Stuttgart Philharmonic under Jörg-Peter Weigle’s masterful leadership. Sterling’s recording favors the high frequencies a bit too much, but otherwise it’s well balanced, with suitable dynamic impact.

— Victor Carr Jr

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Hans Huber (28 June 1852 – 25 December 1921) was a Swiss composer. Born in Eppenberg-Wöschnau, Canton of Solothurn, he studied at the Leipzig Conservatory under Carl Reinecke and later taught in Alsace before moving to Basel in 1877. Though initially denied a position at the Basel Conservatory, he eventually joined in 1889 and became its Director by 1896. Huber composed eight symphonies, concertos for violin, cello, and piano, nine violin sonatas, and five cello sonatas. He also wrote five operas, and a collection of 24 Preludes and Fugues for piano four-hands, covering all major and minor keys.

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Jörg-Peter Weigle (born in 1953) is a German conductor. He trained with the Thomanerchor in Leipzig and studied at the Hanns Eisler Academy in Berlin, later attending masterclasses with Kurt Masur and Witold Rowicki. His conducting career includes roles with the Neubrandenburg State Orchestra, Leipzig Radio Choir, Dresden Philharmonic, Stuttgart Philharmonic, Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt and Philharmonischer Chor Berlin. As an educator, he taught at the Carl Maria von Weber Academy in Dresden and served as Professor of Choral Conducting at the Hanns Eisler Academy until 2017.

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