Bruch: Concerto for Clarinet, Viola, and Orchestra, Op.88

Introduction

The Concerto for Clarinet, Viola, and Orchestra in E minor, Op. 88, by Max Bruch was composed in 1911 for his son, Max Felix Bruch, and received its first performance in 1912, with Willy Hess (viola) and Max Felix Bruch (clarinet) as the soloists. It consists of three movements:

1. Andante con moto
2. Allegro moderato
3. Allegro molto

A typical performance lasts approximately 20 minutes.

The work is sometimes arranged and performed as a concerto for violin and viola.

Recordings

• Bruch: Concerto for Clarinet, Viola, and Orchestra; Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano; Schumann: Märchenerzählungen / Tomasso Placidi (cond.), Steven Kanoff, Paul Coletti, Hanover Radio Philharmonic / 2005 / Asv Living Era
• The Clarinet in Concert / Alun Francis (cond.), Thea King, Nobuko Imai, London Symphony Orchestra / 1997 / Hyperion
• Bruch: Works for Clarinet and Viola; Concerto for Clarinet, Viola and Orchestra in E Minor; Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola and Piano; Romance for Viola and orchestra in F Major / Paul Meyer, Gérard Caussé, François-René Duchâble (piano), Kent Nagano (cond.) / 1988-1989/ Apex
• In the Borderland of Romanticism / Mats Liljefors (cond.), Dimitri Ashkenazy, Anton Kholodenko, The Baltic Symphony Orchestra / 1996 / Artemis