Hoffnung's Music Festivals Anybody?

[feinstein]

I just dug out my old HMV 3 record set of Hoffnung's Music Festivals (EMI HMV SLS-5069). Not only are these hilarious, but they have absolutely wonderful sound.

Has anyone else on the list heard these treasures from the late 1950's? Have they ever been reissued on CD?

[Paul L.]

I've got The Hoffnung Interplanetary Music Festival LP, Angel 35800, recorded Nov 21 & 22, 1958. Very funny, you're correct. I don't think we'll ever get a DCC version though.

[Gary]

Is "Hoffnung's Music Festivals" like Victor Borge, the classical commedian?

Sorry for the dumb question but I've never heard of Hoffning - a little info would be appreciated!

[feinstein]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gary:
[QB]Is "Hoffnung's Music Festivals" like Victor Borge, the classical commedian?

Gerard Hoffnung (died in 1959) was mainly a British illustrator, sometimes tuba player, and organizer of the three Hoffnung Music Festivals. His books of comic illustrations were kind of a "Far Side" of classical music depicting outrageous cartoons of classical music themes. His festivals were the prototype for PDQ Bach and the like. During the "Golden Age" of classical music appreciation (the mid to late 50's), he would recruit Britain's finest composers and musicians to produce spoofs of British classical music. The three records produced from these festivals are superbly recorded and thoroughly enjoyable.

[Mal]

Hoffnung's Music Festivals were issued on CD in the UK a few years back but I'm not sure if they are still available. I've never actually heard the set but have been tempted to borrow it from the local library on numerous occasions. I've always wondered whether they were serious recordings or not, but now I hear that they are not I'll be down the library in the New Year! I'm a big fan of his BBC radio recordings - spoof interviews. These were available on cassette here a few years back but again may well be unavailable at the present time.

****Merry Christmas from the UK!****

[feinstein]

Another interesting fact that I just found out from the official Gerard Hoffnung website was that he was born in 1925 in Berlin and was sent to Britain on one of the early Kindertransports after Hitler's rise to power. He died of cerebral hemmorage at the age of 34 in 1959.