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Masterclass: Bruch Violin Concerto no.1, second movement

2026-03-20T09:43:00

BHbyDarioAcosta3 (1)

Bella Hristova outlines the importance of pacing oneself and creating a hierarchy of intensity in this popular slow movement

I learnt the Bruch Concerto relatively late for a violinist, in my twenties, when I was already at the Curtis Institute of Music. Coming to this piece later is part of the reason why I have a special connection with it, because I don’t have those student associations of really struggling with the work. It is a difficult piece, even though many violinists play it early on – perhaps because it’s more approachable technically than some of the other concertos. It uses the whole range of the instrument…

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