BRONISLAW HUBERMAN IN PERFORMANCE

Description

Huberman (1881-1947) was a Polish-born virtuoso, already famous by the age of thirteen in the musical capitals of Europe. In 1896, he performed the Brahms Concerto in the composer?s presence. According to Brahms?s biographer Max Kalbeck the composer was astonished and deeply moved by the 14-year-old boy?s fiery interpretation, "and when the Adagio was reached his eyes moistened. At the end of the Finale, he embraced the young boy whose musical genius had found the exact mode of interpretation of the concerto." Brahms reputedly planted a kiss on the boy?s forehead, gave him an autographed picture, and told him, "You should not have played so beautifully; you are a genius, my son! "

We are fortunate to have recently discovered a broadcast transcription of the Brahms Concerto with Huberman in clear and good sound for its time which gives a far better idea of his artistry than do most other live recordings of his. When our predecessor, Educational Media Associates, released an LP of the same performance (from an inferior sound source)

Mortimer H. Frank wrote in Fanfare: "The Brahms [concerto] is the prize ? a passionate, intense, rhythmically flexible reading that often explodes into white heat… this is playing of thrilling commitment, personality, and fire… I would certainly rather hear Huberman?s performance of the Brahms than the digital, hi-fi recordings many of today?s virtuosos will soon being giving us."

Richard Perry wrote in Quill and Quire: "Huberman shapes every phrase with keen emotional purpose…"

BRONISLAW HUBERMAN IN PERFORMANCE: JOHANNES BRAHMS: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 77 (cadenza by Hugo Heerman); Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, cond. Artur Rodzinski (23/1/1944); P.I. TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35; PO, cond. Eugene Ormandy (3/1946) UPC #0-17685-11222-5. Technical reconstruction: Maggi Payne