Ernest Bloch’s two tone poems for cello and orchestra, Schelomo and Voice in the Wilderness, make logical disc mates. Stylistically they are quite similar—lusciously scored essays in Romantic exoticism, the latter a little bit more pensive and elegiac than the former. Both are gorgeous, but too short to make a complete program by themselves. Happily, Christopher Palmer arranged the composer’s suite From Jewish Life (originally for cello and piano) for cello, string orchestra, and harp. It sounds wholly idiomatic in this new dress. Toss in Bruch’s ever-popular Kol Nidrei, and the result is both a useful Bloch disc and a collection of music on Jewish themes for cello and orchestra.
The performances here are very fine. Natalie Clein, notwithstanding an unimportant moment or two of questionable intonation, plays both of the big Bloch pieces with notable energy and spontaneity. These are, relatively speaking, swift interpretations, giving the music an unusual amount of strength and directness. Aided by equally vigorous accompaniments from Ilan Volkov and the BBC Scottish Symphony, it’s great to hear performances that refuse to let the music languish excessively. As a result, the gentler From Jewish Life and Kol Nidrei contrast well with the larger tone poems, making a very satisfying complete program—even for continuous listening. The sonics are also very good: well balanced and warmly natural. A fine disc, all around.
