Bruch: Double Concerto for Clarinet, Viola and Orchestra, Op. 88, 8 Pieces for Clarinet, Viola and Piano, Op. 83
11/30/2018, 11 Tracks, 53:25
Featuring
Vincenzo Milletarí
Giovanni Punzi
Eva Katrine Dalsgaard
Tanja Zapolski
Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra
Max Bruch
Did you know?
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Historical Context
The Double Concerto was composed just two years before Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, yet Bruch faithfully adhered to Classical form and Romantic harmony.
Composition History
Bruch was inspired to compose the two works on this album by the playing of his son, Max Felix, a clarinetist, much like Brahms was inspired by Richard Mühlfeld.
Compositional Technique
The Double Concerto for clarinet and viola features a central intermezzo with a serenade-like character, intensified by Bruch's reduction of the orchestral texture to guitar-like strummings.
Composer Biography
Max Bruch, the composer, declared his composing days were over at his 70th birthday in 1908, believing his inspiration had dried up.
Compositional Technique
Bruch's Eight Pieces for clarinet, viola, and piano belong to the genre of character pieces, similar to Schumann's Märchenerzählungen (Fairy Tales) for the same instrumentation.
Performer Biography
Tanja Zapolski, the pianist, made her concerto debut at the age of eight and has performed with leading orchestras and conductors, including Sir Simon Rattle.
Performer Biography
Giovanni Punzi, the clarinetist on this album, is the principal clarinet of the Copenhagen Phil and also serves as a professor of clarinet at the Royal Danish Academy of Music.
