Classical

Joshua Bell Bruch: Scottish Fantasy Sony, out now Ray Chen The Golden Age Decca, out now

I first encountered Bruch’s G Minor Concerto when I was 13. I loved it then, and more than half a century on, I still do. It’s a piece I never tire of; familiarity merely breeds an even deeper affection. There are so many recordings of it, who needs another one, let alone two? But when they are as good as these, who’s complaining? Joshua Bell is not only a first-class virtuoso, but has arguably the most gorgeous tone of any active player. Here he also directs the Academy of St Martin in the Fields in an inyour-face recording that enlarges every opulent solo. Bell plays on a Stradivarius once owned by the mid-20thcentury virtuoso Bronislaw Huberman. Ray Chen goes one better, with a Strad once owned by Joseph Joachim. Chen is also a fine player, and his response to the concerto is measured, musical, and thoroughly satisfying. His recording, made with the London Philharmonic has a more natural concert-hall perspective, which some will undoubtedly prefer. The choice between these two albums may well depend on the couplings. Bell plays Bruch’s underrated Scottish Fantasy wonderfully well. The nearest Bruch got to Scotland was Liverpool. Whatever, the traditional Scottish melodies he chose come up fresh as paint here. Chen is way more adventurous in his CD, dedicated to giants such as Fritz Kreisler and Jascha Heifetz. For me the high points are Kreisler’s transcription of Cyril Scott’s Lotus Land, closely followed by Chen’s quartet, Made in Berlin, playing Clair De Lune and a riotous Waltzing Matilda.