Ernest Bloch’s orchestral music is pretty wonderful, and this disc shows off his range with particular success. True, the Poèmes are largely slow and droopy, if very beautiful, but the other works are wholly satisfying. The Suite for Viola and Orchestra, in particular, is shockingly neglected. It’s got to be one of the greatest works in the repertoire, full of gorgeous color and exotic instrumentation. Bloch, of course, is known primarily for his “Jewish” works, none of which is offered here, but the finale of the Suite may surprise you with its overtly Chinese flavor. Of course, that’s Jewish too. My late grandmother, who made it to the ripe old age of 103, used to say “every room needs a touch of Chinese.” That’s proof enough for me of the affinity between the two cultures.
The performances here are uniformly excellent. Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder may seem chipper next to the Poèmes, but mezzo-soprano Sophie Koch sings them beautifully, while violist Tabea Zimmermann plays the Suite as well as anyone has. Steven Sloane leads the orchestra with confidence and conviction, and the engineering is first rate. So if you want to explore Bloch beyond the “Jewish” works, this disc is an excellent place to start.
