“The same is not the same” – this seemingly succinct title of a composition by Nicolaus A. Huber can be seen as the motto of his entire body of work – and it regularly unleashes unexpected explosive power: much seems familiar at first, only to veer off in a completely unexpected direction. In the process, it is not only conventional musical parameters that are subverted, but the traditional performance setting and all accompanying circumstances as well. Moreover, for Huber, the artist is free. He may adhere to guidelines and patterns; but he is free at any time to disregard them. Total surprise is therefore always possible, and this is what keeps Huber’s music fresh and exciting time and again.