Piano Quintets 1 & 2 - CD

Behind the very common name of Hans Huber is one of the strongest compositional talents that Switzerland produced during the course of the 19th century. Eight symphonies, four piano concertos, five operas, as well as oratorios, cantatas and a large number of chamber music works are part of the impressive oeuvre of this man. In this recording, we hear his relatively late quintets for piano and strings - two highly contrasting works that would have made Johannes Brahms stroke his beard approvingly. The dramatic power of Opus 111 and the capricious playfulness of Opus 125 would have probably reminded him of a transition or two; on the other hand, the autonomy of Huber's invention would have pleased him favourably - and he could only have wished for interpreters like those in our recording.