It’s nice to hear Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in the company of his lesser-known Konzertstück (and not, as it often is, paired with the Mendelssohn concerto). The Konzertstück is sort of a mini-concerto in two movements that features finely-spun and ingratiating tunes allied with masterful violin writing. The better-known Romance is an interlude whose serene beauty Maxim Fedotov faithfully recreates with his narrowly focused, silvery tone. In the Concerto this tone gains a tensile strength as Fedotov skillfully navigates the first movement’s expressive permutations and later the finale’s rustic dancing rhythms. However, Fedotov’s interpretation is pretty much straightforward, keeping the music’s emotional drama in balance. This works well enough, though admittedly the passion exhibited by Cho-Liang Lin is quite affecting, as is Heifetz’s stunning virtuosity. Dmitry Yablonsky is of like mind with Fedotov, leading the Russian Philharmonic in a highly persuasive, well-played accompaniment. Naxos’ recording places the soloist comfortably in perspective with the orchestra.
