Octo_Russ

Bruch - Violin Concerto 1 [Lin/Slatkin-Chicago Symphony Orchestra] 

The flip side of the disc i played last month of Bruch's Scottish Fantasy [11th February 2011], and this is almost Bruch's one hit wonder, and it is a wonder that he didn't write other compositions the equal of it [the Scottish Fantasy aside], i enjoyed this Concerto again today, this time with a new Bruch disc that i acquired recently, i think this is now my 12th!.

Cho-Liang Lin is a Taiwanese Violinist, now 51 years old, he recorded this Concerto in 1986, i like the double exposure front booklet shot [by William Coupon], showing some good movement. 

Bruch's evergreen First Violin Concerto always hits the spot with me, the last two movements were especially memorable, but it seems as always, it was that middle movement that wrenches my heart, one of the most perfect movements in the whole of the Violin Concerto repertoire, here are some highlights for me,
0:00 - starting off with sweet and innocent stirrings.
0:56 - the second half of the main theme is even more tuneful, and develops into something even greater, more lyrically free.
2:23 - a trill from the violin, and then goes up into the treble stratosphere, and takes my heart with it, it really soars.
2:42 - becoming more impassioned, and more inventive.
3:18 - a sad little episode with the violin, as if remembering something nostalgic.
4:08 - the orchestra starts up a new sad refrain, to which the violin joins in.
5:09 - the violin develops an idea into a fortissimo. 
5:40 - a forte of sound of passion reaches its climax with the orchestra.
7:20 - quieter, innocent and sweet, developing into an impassioned intensity.

Here's Joshua Bell playing the slow middle movement on YouTube.