James Ehnes offers a more “traditional” account of the First Concerto than Isabelle van Keulen on her recent Koch release. Where van Keulen offers quick tempos and refreshingly streamlined phrasing, Ehnes is slower but still flowing as he caresses Bruch’s melodies with his beguilingly sweet tone. Many listeners may well prefer his more luscious treatment of the slow movement’s “Alpine Symphony” tune, or the finale’s second subject. Charles Dutoit’s romantic approach to the orchestral score ideally suits Ehnes’ conception, resulting in a very satisfying performance.
By giving Bruch’s rather foursquare melodies a stronger rhythmic profile, Ehnes and Dutoit make a more positive presentation of the Concerto No. 3 than van Keulen and Varga, but the work as a whole remains one of Bruch’s less memorable efforts, a piece written well after its time. However, if the Concerto No. 3 is your primary concern, this disc makes a good choice. CBC’s recording balances the violin adroitly against the orchestra, though it doesn’t match the resplendent sound Decca usually gets from these forces. [10/27/2001]
