This year marks the 100th anniversary of Max Bruch’s death. His remarkably long life of 82 years ran parallel to a period in contemporary history that was determined by scientific progress and comprehensive industrialisation – developments that also found their expression in art. Shortly after the turn of the 20th century, ground-breaking compositions by Igor Stravinsky and Arnold Schoenberg were already rocking the musical world. Bruch, however, met the tide of events with stoicism: he remained conservative, patriotic and, above all, adhered unconditionally to the tradition of Romanticism in music. This programme was recorded during a Max Bruch Jubilee Concert in Halle. It includes both the famous Suite on Russian Themes and the rarely performed Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra.