Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1

[aligreto]

A truly great performance, in fine mid 70s analog sound. And if you are still in Japan you're just in luck. The only proper CD incarnation is on Denon:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/COCO-73297

preview:
https://www.youtube.com/v/Jv2xFVEZ0hk https://www.youtube.com/v/DAjutYFbxM0

https://www.youtube.com/v/c1IxTR8g8v0

I must give that a listen over the weekend; thank you for posting it.

[Drasko]

OK, I have listened through the entire concerto! Which was a pleasure and interesting, because Kogan is a great violinist.

Can I ask you how Lorin Maazel's role plays into your judgement of this recording? Because to me personally the Berliner Philharmoniker (?) sounds colossal and way too slow - particularly in the first and second movement. But even the third movement, that is supposed to sound rapturous from start to finish, is rather measured at times. When Kogan tries to pick up speed (several times), Maazel is always one step behind...
Kogan digs deep into the strings, which is fine, but his approach to the music is a rather solemn one, at times even bleak... Actually something I would have expected from him.

All in all, I prefer my Bruch a bit lighter and brighter, not overly sentimental, but more swift, playful and lyrical.

Just my two cents...with all due respect to your favourite.

Q

First thing first, are you ok? I've just been reading of some massive earthquake in Japan.

As for the concerto, I must admit I never gave it too much thought. I guess I perceive the piece as predominantly tragic (in a romantic sense) and that is how I hear Kogan's playing, dark maybe but not solemn. It's a minor key concerto after all. And Maazel's emphatic accompaniment falls in line with that, I feel. The orchestra is RIAS Sinfonie-Orchestre (Fricsay's band, West Berlin radio orchestra).

[Que]

First thing first, are you ok? I've just been reading of some massive earthquake in Japan.

I have to admit that I didn't give the possibility of an earthquake much thought - silly enough.... Kyoto, where we are staying, is on the main island while the quake occured on the smaller island South-West of it. We didn't notice any of it..
Thank you for your concern!

As for the concerto, I must admit I never gave it too much thought. I guess I perceive the piece as predominantly tragic (in a romantic sense) and that is how I hear Kogan's playing, dark maybe but not solemn. It's a minor key concerto after all. And Maazel's emphatic accompaniment falls in line with that, I feel. The orchestra is RIAS Sinfonie-Orchestre (Fricsay's band, West Berlin radioorchestra).

Tragic is an adequate description - that certainly how it is approached. I perceive it more as bittersweet, but I also think our perception of music is shaped by the performances we grow attached too. 

Q

[Drasko]

I have to admit that I didn't give the possibility of an earthquake much thought - silly enough

And rightly, I think. Neither would have I. Japan is at the very top of places I'd like to visit if I ever get the chance, and possibility of earthquake would hardly deter me.

[aligreto]

I have now listened to the Kogan version posted above and I really liked it.

That was an interesting discussion between Que and Drasko regarding the tragic/bittersweet perception of this work. I can see what Drasko means when mentioning the darker interpretation by Kogan. I think that it works really well. I would have tended towards the bittersweet interpretation myself. The Kogan is now definitely on my List.

[aligreto]

Along with the above recommendations that I am considering I had already ordered a performance by Vengerov prior to my creating the thread....





I like Vengerov as a performer and it arrived today.

[Que]

A quick heads up for those interested in Heifetz' earlier Bruch recordings, on this Naxos issue mentioned by Drasko:

[asin]B005CCJQMO[/asin]

This Japanese issue has the same recordings from '51 and '54 respectively , and a more attractive coupling with the Scottish Fantasy from '47:

[asin]B00SRVBVH0[/asin]
The information on the recording dates is not available  on Amazon, but I checked this afternoon on my 2nd and last visit to Tower Records in Shibuya, Japan.

I also came across recordings of Bruch no.1 by Wolgang Schneiderhan and Zino Franscescatti. I haven't heard those, but undoubtedly violinists to reckon with...

Q

[aligreto]

I also came across recordings of Bruch no.1 by Wolgang Schneiderhan and Zino Franscescatti. I haven't heard those, but undoubtedly violinists to reckon with...

Q

My very first purchase of a recording of the Beethoven Violin Concerto was with Schneiderhan playing so I have fond memories of that. Perhaps it would be worth investigating his interpretation of the Bruch No. 1.

[Drasko]

I also came across recordings of Bruch no.1 by Wolgang Schneiderhan and Zino Franscescatti. I haven't heard those, but undoubtedly violinists to reckon with...

Q

I have the Francescatti recording (with Mitropoulos). A fine performance, elegant. More in line with your taste than Kogan probably.

Then again Bruch 1st is so often played and recorded that there are many good performances. For instance here is a fiery one from Guila Bustabo with superb accompaniment by Mengelberg:

https://www.youtube.com/v/SCisxcO49Rg

[Florestan]

My very first purchase of a recording of the Beethoven Violin Concerto was with Schneiderhan playing so I have fond memories of that.

Mine too, the one with Celibidache and the RAI SO. Who conducted yours?

[aligreto]

Mine too, the one with Celibidache and the RAI SO. Who conducted yours?

Jochum, conducting the Berlin Philharmonic [on DG].

[aligreto]

Then again Bruch 1st is so often played and recorded that there are many good performances. For instance here is a fiery one from Guila Bustabo with superb accompaniment by Mengelberg:

https://www.youtube.com/v/SCisxcO49Rg

I do not have a lot of works conducted by Mengelberg but I do like what I have so I will try to make time to listen to that clip tomorrow. Thank you for posting it.

[hpowders]

I love the Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, especially as played by either Heifetz or Menuhin.