CD Review | Max Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1; Florence Price: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2, Adoration (Decca Records, 2023)

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Max Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1; Florence Price: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2, Adoration
Randall Goosby, violin; Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor
Decca Records, 2023

Randall Goosby is a young American violinist and a recent Juilliard graduate. In the Bruch concerto, it sounds as though Goosby is somewhat overwhelmed by the high-powered accompaniment of the Philadelphians, led by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. While the orchestra leads, he seems to be following.

The album features two Florence Price concertos, both of which were never performed during her lifetime, having only been discovered posthumously. The Violin Concerto No. 1 dates from 1939 and is a meandering affair, especially in the first movement. The second movement is quite beautiful, but the finale seems to end abruptly. While the concerto itself is not particularly successful, Goosby manages its technical challenges.

The Violin Concerto No. 2 dates from 1952, the year before Price died at the age of 66. It is significantly shorter, and seems largely based on a spiritual, similar to the slow movements of her First and Third symphonies. The orchestra is accompanied by a solo violin, which mostly plays figurations around this tune. Adoration, meanwhile, which closes out the album, is a lovely short piece, already popular as an encore. I recently heard it played as such at a concert at the Bravo! Vail Music Festival.

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