Bruch's Violin Concerto: Do You Like It?

[Guest]

A lot of people do, apparently.

Wasn't it voted 'The Nation's Favourite....' classical piece a while back? (though probably only by listeners to Classic FM).

I listened to it last night....for the first time in ages. it's on disc 7 (I think) of the William Steinberg icon set. I'd been putting off listening to this disc because of the presence of said V.C. on it. Not that i dislike the work - there is nothing in it to dislike, really, is there? Nor, though, I'd argue, is there anything to get excited about - it's just mild, pleasant, 'nice': the chicken korma of the violin repertory, really.

But I suppose it's those very qualities of mild affability that have ensured its place in the hearts of middle-brow music lovers (for it was surely they who voted, en masse, for it). Maybe this unpretentious little piece holds a lesson for us all - aim for nothing more than mild affability if you want to be liked by lots of people....

[Roehre]

It's a lovely concerto, and I like it (as did Richard Straus btw - stating that he used that melody as it was too good to be used only once ).
But though being it a lovely, much beloved and therefore(?) quite overplayed concerto, there is a lot to discover in the form of it. It is not a straightforward concerto in an analytical sense, it's Bruch at it's most inventive (something more often than not lacking in many of his other [orchestral] works). In that sense Bruch VC 1 is an underrated work even IMO.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Yes, I like it, too: given a good performance (rather than the routine schmaltzy play-throughs it so often gets) it is genuinely moving and exhilerating. I like the "chicken korma" simile - a good cook can make a really good Korma: subtly spicy, rather than the custard that many Takeaways seem to think customers want!

Best Wishes.

[Mandryka]

I don't have much technical knowledge of music, so will take what you say about it being a more radical work than it sounds at face value.

For all that, I am still somewhat surprised by its popularity.....and I do have a hunch (though no more than that) that this has more to do with the absence of certain things from it (high drama, for one) than the presence of any particular qualities in it. It's the kind of thing you can have on in the background while you're doing something else (though there are a fair few pieces of which that could also be said).

[BBMmk2]

I never quite "got", this concerto until I had a recording by Maxim Vengerov. He was the only violinist that changed my whole thinking of this VC.

[Pabmusic]

I doubt that it's the concerto as such that is so popular. I remember a friend of mine being bowled over by this at university, but only really by the slow movement. It was often featured on middle-brow classical music programmes (Your Hundred Best Tunes especially) - long before Classic FM came along. But it was almost always the slow movement. It's a lovely tune, and I'm not too surprised that it has entered the public consciousness as a 'beautiful' classical piece.

[Suffolkcoastal]

I find the 1st concerto ok, but somewhat unsatisfactory, the first movement in particular. I actually prefer the 2nd & 3rd Concertos and think they deserve more performances/broadcasts as I do his symphonies.

[EdgeleyRob]

I don't have much technical knowledge of music,

Nor do I but I love this piece (and not just the slow movement!)

[Ariosto]

Heifetz

Interesting discussion about the Bruch. For what it is worth I consider this a great concerto, worthy of one's full attention.

As it happens I've just recieved a Naxos CD (8.111371) of Heifetz playing the two Bruch concertos with the two Beethoven Romances and the Sphor No 8 concerto in A minor, Op 47

These recordings were made between 1951 and 1954, when Heifetz would have been at his peak at around age 51-54. The Bruch No 1 is a very gritty, un-sentimental recording which keeps a forward moving dimension all the way through. It is a perfect example of Heifetz's genius. The conductor is Sargent, who is someone I have never felt was much of a musician, but to give credit where due, he sticks with Heifetz and anticipates his every move. I can see now why many of the great players were happy with MS as an accompanist, and there must have been a reason as to why Heifetz used Flash Harry so much. The LSO was not considered a great band at the time, but I find the playing pretty good.

Heifetz made a later recording with the LSO in about 1962 and I have an interesting story about Heifetz from a friend who played in the sessions. But more of that and the other performances on this CD later.

The CD is an excellent restoration by Mark Obert-Thorn.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It's a lovely concerto, and I like it (as did Richard Straus btw - stating that he used that melody as it was too good to be used only once ).

What was it Strauss said in rehearsal? Something like - "Now, gentlemen, let's start at the Bruch Violin Concerto" - and the orchestra all knew where to begin.

[vinteuil]

No.

[Barbirollians]

I love it always have done - it is a bit like a good bar of chocolate a treat to have occasionally but not to be over indulged in.

I like lots of recordings from Menuhin , Vengerov, Chung, Mutter and Heifetz to name but my favourite is a Perlman's later recording with Haitink - the finale is exhilarating

[Simon]

Yes, of course I like it - because it's lovely music.

And I was going to say, after reading the first page, how good it was to see us all in agreement.

But then I saw vinteuil's post. He's far too highbrow to admit to liking anything so popular, naturally.

[visualnickmos]

It is, indeed, lovely music, ('The' Bruch VC) with many fine inerpretations to enjoy. And, yes - Vengerov is quite something. It's a shame that when something becomes popular, it sometimes seems to become devalued in certain quarters. I'm of the humble opinion that one should really just keep focused on the music "on what it sounds like" rather than whether it gets played willy-nilly on popular media. If it does, so be it.
In fact, through the very familiarity with said VC, I picked up some years ago, at Gramex, Bruch's complete symphonies and VCs, etc on 2 Philips double CD sets, and I am still enjoying them immensely - so much superb music that I could easily have missed had it not been for this "populist" VC's near-constant exposure. And - (I haven't finished yet!) say what one likes about CfM, but it has given, and continues to give to its credit, huge pleasure to many, many people - many of whom would have never known how lovely the enjoyment of classical music can be. Stop this high-brow snobbery, PLEASE! Each to his/her own. I find it very refreshing to listen to CfM for a fresh and happy and shall I say - innocent unabashed enjoyment of music for enjoyment's sake. What can be better than that? That, surely was the whole point of any music being composed in the first place? To enjoy! We all love a good wallow, surely...

[Norfolk Born]

Yes, of course I like it - because it's lovely music.

And I was going to say, after reading the first page, how good it was to see us all in agreement.

But then I saw vinteuil's post. He's far too highbrow to admit to liking anything so popular, naturally.

I don't like it either (but that doesn't necessarily make me highbrow )