Customer Reviews

Bruch: Complete Violin Concertos / Scottish Fantasy

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It may well be that you've heard the adagio from Bruch's second concerto and thought it to be a wonderfully romantic piece, and you would be right. However it is, as far as Max Bruch's music is concerned, just the beginning. The adagio appassionata has a beautiful melody that will stay in your head all day. The wonderful solo part is backed by a strong and emotional performance from the orchestra and the piece is allowed to open at just the right pace. The romance,also on the second cd, continues the melodic trends that make Bruch one of the more under appreciated composers available. His love for the romantic melodies that make his music so beautiful is often seen by critics as a lack of complexity in the pieces but must, by genuine music lovers, be seen as something for which we should be grateful. In memorandum is yet another piece to testify to this. Both the virtually unknown concertos are also superb successes-very tuneful and cause the kind of stirring often felt when listening to Beethoven. This set should be in everybodies collection, for it takes a hard soul not to enjoy them. If, like me you enjoy a moment alone with your thoughts, to close you're eyes and wonder wistfully at the pleasures of life, then this cd will warm your heart.

This cd was chosen for the GROSSLY overlooked Concerto No 3, I couldn't believe this piece is not played more often!

Do you wish you could find a new and fresh concerto and are sick of listening to or playing the standard ones over and over? Well this is the CD you want for sure then! Bruch was like most composers: a hopeless romantic. There are so many pieces of unquestionable power and beauty he has written. All of the concertos by Bruch are soothing and relaxing and make for a perfect atmosphere of beauty and romance.

It is well known about Mr. Accardo's collection of great violins and his ability to change from a Strad to a Guarneri. Here he presents an unbelievable display of awesome tone from his violin, a lot better than the other recordings I have heard by him. His vibrato is lush and phrasing is wonderful here.

Many people put Accardo's abilities down, based on his performances of Paganini or Haydn concertos. While I do not fully recommend those recordings, if you have been biased by his other recordings, you will be surprised at the beauty of this CD. I submit that the recording of Concerto 3 here is completely essential and necessary.

While the Concerto 1 is played very well here, I recommend Kyung Wha Chung's live recording paired with the Beethoven. For the Scottish Fantasy, check out Rabin and Heifetz. Make sure to check out the Bruch Double Concerto too, totally awesome music with warmth and power!

To all professional violin players out there: please consider putting the Bruch Concerto 3 in your repertoire, it is awesome!

I'm happy buying the CD's from Accardo, only see Accardo in the CD-Case and you know, something good is inside there. Now talking about this particular CD, is amazing the Max Bruch work. Accardo playing incredible the third concert, a beautiful concert, like the other reviewers I agree, that this concert must be included in the violinist repertoire. Why always the #1 Concert of Bruch, Why always the Wieniawski #2, if those composers has other big master works. Now the technich of the violinist like the the materials of his strings, help so much to perform this works. A Bravo for Mr. Accardo in the release of this work. Accardo is a big master of the violin, and always you could associate with Paganini works, but is incredible listen him in other master works, like Bruch, Wieniawski, etc. I hope that he include in his futures CD's unknown concerts for the public in general like Fiorillo, Rode, Viotti, etc.

This is an excellent compilation, which includes, of course, the famous 1st Violin Concerto, admirably played by orchestra (Kurt Masur conducting) and violinist Salvatore Accardo.

This is a double-disc, and while that 1st concerto can be found on disc 1 (accompanied by the 2nd concerto and Serenade for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 75), disc 2 contains some real surprises (for me, at least): Serenade For Violin and Orchestra, Op. 75 (concl.) and the 3rd Violin Concerto.

Other reviewers spoke about the 3rd here, and after giving it ample attention I must say in my very humble opinion that it bears the signs of a possible classic; certainly the first movement is great.

That 'mystery' 3rd concerto was for me the reason to buy it, and I hope you'll enjoy it, too. As for the sound ... I think it's fine, not at all shrill to my ears; but that's just me, maybe.

Last of all, this CD contains the Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46. Quite a lot of material, while the price is about right ...

Having discovered Max Bruch's works much later than those of Mozart, Beethowen, Bach, Haydn, Schubert or Tchaikovsky, I feel that he is one of the most underrated or underappreciated composers. While he may not be right up there with the titans, his violin concertos are a pure delight to the ear, although Mendelssohn's influence is quite obvious. Personally I prefer the first concerto, op 26, which took him 9 years to write. It was dedicated to the great hungarian violinist Joseph Joachim, who apparently, along with Willy Hess, helped the author during the final revisions of the concerto. I read somewhere that Hess performed himself the premières of many of Max Bruch's works, and later Bruch would compose the concert piece for violin and orchestra op 84 especially for Hess.

Max Bruch may not be one of the most productive composers ever, but his first violin concerto and especially "Kol Nidrei" are a pure delight to the ear.

If you have a real passion for classical music and, like me recently, you are just discovering Max Bruch's music, chances are that his themes will stay in your head for quite a while. What a brilliant composer!

The Bruch 3rd Violin Concerto sounds like the younger sister of the Brahms Violin Concerto. However, the sister is less serious and much sexier.

One of the reasons I stopped going to symphony concerts was the constant repetition of a few concertos. The Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Beethoven, etc. concerti are played so often, most regular concertgoers must have them memorized. A friend of mine thinks conductors do not want to use their very limited rehearsal time on concerti so only the most familiar are played. If that is the case, why not simply play an over familiar symphony when you play a unfamiliar concerto. Everything would balance out. The Bruch 3rd Violin Concerto is a wonderful piece, especially the highly heroic second theme of the first movement. It should be played much more often.

Fortunately, it is gaining ground. Amazon now lists 5 recordings of the piece. However, none of them are by the most famous violinists. Salvadore Accordo was a sensational violinist when he recorded all the works on this double CD but he was never as famous as Perlman. But Perlman only recorded the first concerto of Bruch, as is the case with almost every famous violinist for the last 100 years. Hopefully, that will change.

As I said Accordo was a sensational violinist with a tone that was huge and beautiful and a technique second to none. The performances here are first class in every way. This CD should be in every serious collection.

The original LP of #3, broadcast, sent two of us on a treasure hunt for days only to find it out of print. The hunt then lasted for years for this reissue. It turned out that while #3 was all it was remembered to be, better on CD of course, the Serenade was the prize. Everyone who hears this CD buys it.

A week ago, I knew nothing about Max Bruch, until I came across a video of Itzhak Perlman playing VC #1. I was astonished by it. I own Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Paganini, and a few other composers VC's, but Bruch's made me go WOW!! Granted this performance is by Accardo, and after purchasing and listening to this CD, I consider Perlman and Accardo of equal talent. I have always opted for complete works by a top-grade artist-Accardo, such as this CD, rather than piece mealing my collection on a per performance per piece manner as with Perlman. One last note about Accardo, I am not sure if he plays on a strat, but if does he, the tone, range, and dynamics of his instrument are unsurpassed. All that said coupled with his unbelievable ability make him really difficult to beat.

VC#1-I love a few romantic period composers, Beethoven, Paganini, Chopin, Mendelssohn and Dvorak. This VC has to be at the top of my all-time great list. Such sentiment, power, romance, and beauty, it leaves me speechless. How could one come up with such a great piece? Well, the CD leaflet notes explain. Bruch collaborated with a premier violinist, Joachim, who helped him rewrite the concerto. It's a masterpiece in a violinst's mind. What a unique approach to composition. Bravo-Bruch...

VC#2-Is a great work; the adagio is very touching and heartfelt. Bruch definitely has an exceptional way of writing slow mvt.s and Accardo has an exceptional way of playing them, maybe the best.

VC#3-I really enjoy this VC, maybe as much as VC#1. It begins with a very poignant first movement-Allegro energico. The violin passages are very well versed and the theme is repeated by the soloist. The adagio movement is very good and has a very beautiful theme to it. The last movement is not as powerful as the first, but is more joyful and likable. Accardo's playing is just spectactular!

Anyone who is interested in romantic period violin this CD is a must. Bruch's VC's are as Romantic as you can get.

I'd never really listened to Bruch before I bought this CD. I think I was more interested in Kurt Masur and his orchestra more than the composer. One hearing of the first concerto and I was hooked. Every time I listen to the second movement I get shivers even after a year.

I had misplaced the CD for a short time and almost became hysterical looking for it. The first concerto had become like a drug upon which I had become dependant. So many people have written rave reviews of this CD and only mention the 2nd and 3rd concerti. I've been a huge Mozart fan my entire life but I count Bruch's 1st concerto the most beautiful music ever written or performed.

Simply fabulous: Accardo joins Bruch in a divine feeling. I think this is one of the best performances of Accardo virtuoso. Bruch's Concerto N. 1 does need commentary. The price is very low for this double disk.