Eldbjørg Hemsing, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra & Gergely Madaras - Bruch: Violin Concerto (2026) [Hi-Res]

On her album *Bruch*, to be released in 2026 with the Oslo Philharmonic under the direction of Gergely Madaras, violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing—known for her creative repertoire concepts—presents not only Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto but also the Romance, Op. 85—originally written for viola and orchestra—as well as a new arrangement of “In der Nacht,” Op. 72, for solo violin and orchestra. The recording documents Hemsing’s long-standing engagement with one of the great Romantic staples of the violin repertoire. Hemsing first performed the work with the Oslo Philharmonic as a child; now she feels her interpretation is ready for a recording. “The Bruch Violin Concerto has been a lifelong companion for me—I practically grew up with the piece. What’s remarkable is how many colors, emotions, and layers of meaning have opened up to me over the years. I think I now have an understanding of the work that justifies a recording,” explains Eldbjørg Hemsing. Known for her expressive tone and technical precision, Eldbjørg Hemsing focuses her interpretation on the song-like quality of the work and clearly brings out its various characters. In doing so, she considers the balance between virtuosity and musical expression in Bruch’s work to be of particular importance: “What I love most about this concerto is its warmth and its deeply human ‘voice.’ Bruch understood the violin in a completely natural way. Although the concerto is virtuosic, the technical challenges are always in the service of the music. That is exactly what makes it so special to me: it allows the violin not only to shine, but to truly sing. Each movement opens up a world of its own. For me, the second movement is the heart of the concerto, filled with tenderness and a sense of calm,” says Eldbjørg Hemsing. The program is rounded out by two works that further illuminate Bruch’s lyrical musical language. The Romance, Op. 85, was originally composed for viola and orchestra. For this recording, Eldbjørg Hemsing combined a version for violin and piano—prepared by Bruch himself—with the original orchestral score. The violin part fit perfectly—without any transposition—into the work, which was actually composed for viola. The album’s encore is a new arrangement by Jan-Peter Klöpfel for violin and orchestra of Bruch’s song “In der Nacht,” Op. 72.