Carl Maria von Weber - Overtures (Hermann Scherchen)

Information

Composer: Carl Maria von Weber

1. Euryanthe Overture, J. 291
2. Preciosa Overture, J. 279
3. Jubel Overture, J. 245
4. Oberon Overture, J. 306
5. Abu Hassan Overture, J. 106
6. Peter Schmoll Overture, J. 8

Orchestre de l'Opéra national de Paris

Hermann Scherchen, conductor

Date: 1958 / 2026

Label: Alexandre Bak - Classical Music Reference Recording

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Carl Maria von Weber (1786–1826) was a pioneering German composer, conductor, and pianist who played a central role in the transition from Classical to Romantic music. Best known for his operas Der Freischütz, Euryanthe, and Oberon, he helped establish German Romantic opera through dramatic storytelling, folkloric themes, and innovative orchestration. Born into a musical family, Weber studied with several notable teachers and became an influential opera director in Prague and Dresden. His works emphasized emotional expression and national identity, influencing later composers such as Wagner, Chopin, and Liszt. Despite chronic illness, Weber achieved international acclaim before his death in London in 1826.

Hermann Scherchen (1891–1966) was a distinguished German conductor, composer, and music educator known for championing 20th-century and avant-garde music. Largely self-taught, he began his career as a violist before gaining recognition as a conductor closely associated with composers such as Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern, and Alban Berg. Scherchen founded the Neue Musikgesellschaft in Berlin to promote contemporary music and later worked extensively across Europe after leaving Germany in 1933 due to the Nazi regime. Renowned for his innovative interpretations and influential recordings, he also wrote important books on conducting and music philosophy, leaving a lasting impact on modern orchestral performance and musical thought.

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