This is exactly the kind of music that serious collectors of good Romantic music should snap up without hesitation, that radio stations should play, and that orchestras should consider programming. It’s likely to be overlooked because, first, Max Bruch was not a terribly interesting composer most of the time, and the folk music of Sweden doesn’t have the cachet of, say, Hungary, the Czech lands, or Spain. It’s a pity, because the tunes are delicious, and Bruch’s arrangements are perfectly charming, tasteful, and spirited. They are also immaculately performed by Werner Andreas Albert and the Kaiserslautern orchestra. Yes, the English horn player has a tendency to quack, and the music makes no unusual virtuoso demands, yet such is the interest in the repertoire that the finer technical points can’t detract from the strongest possible recommendation.
This last point applies with particular force to the Suite on Russian Folk Melodies. It’s a really gorgeous 20 minutes of music, with luscious writing for harp and some particularly colorful contributions from the winds and percussion. In short, it shows Bruch writing at the same high level of inspiration that characterizes his famous First violin concerto and Scottish Fantasy–miles away from the often routine, somewhat dour world of the symphonies. The sonics are also excellent, as German radio productions usually manage. So if you’re looking for some really enjoyable, off-the-beaten-path 19th-century repertoire (and a disc you will want to play over and over), do check out this release. [3/2/2009]
