Donald Macleod explores the life and music of German Romantic composer Max Bruch. Today, we're transported to Bruch's spiritual and creative haven, a house called the Igeler Hof.
Donald Macleod transports us to Bruch’s spiritual home and creative haven.
“Only true melody outlasts all changes and shifts of time” – so said this week’s composer, Max Bruch, the creator of what may be the world’s best-loved violin concerto. But Bruch would hate us to think of him as a one hit wonder. He even came to resent the very sound of his first Violin concerto, the only piece by which he’s often ed. All this week, Donald Macleod colours in Bruch’s life story and reveals the breadth of his output, including some of his lesser-heard music.
Today, we hear the works inspired by Bruch’s spiritual home, a country house called the Igeler Hof in the Rhineland Hills. Since his childhood, visits there anchored him creatively, formed the backdrop for one of his most important friendships, and he held the place in his heart, even in his dying days.
Sommerlust im Walde, Op 71 No 1
Darmstadt Concert Choir
Wolfgang Seeliger, conductor
String Quartet No 1 (iii.Allegro molto enérgico)
Mannheim String Quartet
Symphony No 3 (iii. Scherzo Vivace)
Hungarian State Orchestra
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Das Lied von der Glocke (final movements)
Ute Selbig, soprano
Elisabeth Graf, alto
Matthias Bleidorn, tenor
André Eckert, bass
Singakademie Dresden
Dresdner Philharmonie
Hans-Christoph Rademann, conductor
Odysseus Prelude
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
Robert Trevino, conductor
In Memoriam, Op 65
Kerson Leong, violin
Philharmonia
Patrick Hahn, conductor
Produced by Amelia Parker for BBC Audio Wales and West
