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 Max Bruch's eminently listenable music is enjoying something of a renaissance lately with many releases of his symphonies, particularly on Chandos and MDG. This cleanly articulated and well-groomed recording of the beautiful Second Symphony can confidently see off most of the competition. I grew up with these works in Kurt Masur's forceful and eccentrically directed yet brilliant accounts on Philips. Schmalfuss finds infinitely more poetry and essential lyricism in this always romantic wood-glade music. There is particular élan in the sublime Allegro molto tranquillo that slowly builds into a forceful statement from the full orchestra. The same goes for the enchanting Adagio ma non troppo which is permeated with beautiful themes and which is genially and tenderly played by the Wuppertal strings. I also enjoyed Andreas Krecher's rumbustious, poetic account of the Third Concerto, a mammoth piece that definitely deserves the best possible exposure. Shamefully it is not a repertory piece. The expansive Allegro energico includes much that is significant and Krecher's playing matches Accardo's more flamboyant version on Philips (again with Masur). I have not heard Mordkovitch's new account on Chandos (coupled with the 1st Symphony) but this is truly a version to go for. Painstakingly detailed notes and the usual spotlit MDG presentation is an added bonus to these two superbly engineered works. Another winner from Wuppertal!

Reviewer

Gerald Fenech

Performance:

Sound:

Reviewer

Gerald Fenech

Performance:

Sound:

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