This Hyperion January issue is a winner at several levels. The repertoire, the reasonably well known Violin Concerto No 2, and the almost totally unknown Konzertstück, In Memoriam, and Adagio Appassionato will fill a gap in most violin lovers collection, and give them a chance to hear Bruch’s output beyond the oh so popular (oh so notorious!) Concerto No 1.
Liebeck plays very well, and what emerges is that Bruch should not be described as a one hit wonder. The In Memoriam is a particularly powerful piece. No wonder Bruch’s publishers asked him to turn it into a full concerto. He said he thought it was fine as it is—a massive misjudgement, which has surely all but guaranteed the work’s total neglect in the concert hall. It is, however, well worth getting to know on disc.