A real showman
Donald Macleod explores Max Bruch鈥檚 violin works. Today his second violin concerto, created for a charismatic violinist with a dazzling technique.
Donald Macleod explores Max Bruch鈥檚 violin works. Today his second violin concerto, created for a charismatic violinist with a dazzling technique.
Melody, said Bruch, represents the 鈥渟oul of music鈥� and nowhere is that better represented than in his first violin concerto. It鈥檚 a work which brought him fame and fortune, but it鈥檚 also a work he came to hate, since he felt its popularity suppressed performances of his other compositions. It鈥檚 a sentiment that has some justification, since Bruch wrote some two hundred odd works, the majority of which rarely get performed.
Aside from a natural outspokenness and a tendency to take umbrage, which lead to some very prickly professional relationships, he also had to contend with some unlucky timing. Born in Cologne in 1838, Bruch was five years younger than Brahms. Even though he outlived him by some twenty years Bruch remained over-shadowed by one of the great luminaries of German music.
This week though the spotlight falls firmly on Bruch, as Donald Macleod explores his concerted works for the violin, an instrument with which he had a very close relationship. Starting with that most famous example Bruch came to resent so much, you can also hear the second violin concerto, which was championed in more recent times by Itzhak Perlman, the third violin concerto, the folk-inspired Scottish Melody and one of his final utterances for the instrument, the Konzertst眉ck, Opus 84.
Attending a performance in Paris given by the Spanish virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate left Bruch deeply impressed. A great showman, with a mop of wild hair, his playing captivated the audience. and Bruch, who enthusiastically determined to write the violinist a major new work.
Swedish dances, Op 63 No 2 - Ruhig bewegt
Dene Olding, violin
Piers Lane, piano
Symphony no 2 - Allegro passionato, ma un poco maestoso
Staatskapelle Weimar
Michael Hal谩sz, conductor
Sch枚n Ellen Op 24 for soprano, baritone and orchestra
Claudia Braun, soprano
Thomas Laske, baritone
Kantorei Barmen-Germarke
Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra
George Hanson, conductor
Violin Concerto No 2 in D minor, Op 44
Izthak Perlman, violin
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Jesus Lopez-Cobos, conductor
Last on
Music Played
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Max Bruch
Ruhig Bewegt (15 Swedish Dances, Op 63 No 2)
Performer: Dene Olding. Performer: Piers Lane.- HYPERION : CDA 68120.
- HYPERION.
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Max Bruch
Symphony No 2 in F minor, Op 36 (1st movement)
Performer: Staatskapelle Weimar. Conductor: Michael Hal谩sz.- Naxos 8570994.
- Naxos.
- 5.
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Max Bruch
Sch枚n Ellen, Op 24
Singer: Claudia Braun. Singer: Thomas Laske. Ensemble: Barmen-Gemarke Kantorei. Orchestra: Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal. Conductor: George Hanson.- MDG 335 1096-2.
- MDG.
- 22.
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Max Bruch
Violin Concerto No 2 in D minor, Op 44
Performer: Itzhak Perlman. Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Jes煤s L贸pez Cobos.
Broadcast
- Tue 12 Feb 2019 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
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