Bruch: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2

Bruch was famed in his lifetime for his large-scale choral works, but perhaps best known today for his Violin Concerto No. 1 (8557689; also Violin Concertos Nos. 2 & 3: 8557793) Kol Nidrei and Schelomo (8550519) He also composed three symphonies. The First, dedicated to Brahms and indebted to Mendelssohn and Schumann, was well received at its première. The weighty Second was dedicated to the violinist/composer Joseph Joachim. The symphony echoes the music of Beethoven and Brahms and features the beautiful Adagio second movement with lyrical solos for several instruments.