Fridrich Bruk: Orchestral Music, Volume Five
This fifth instalment of the recent symphonic output of Fridrich Bruk (born in Ukraine in 1937 but a Finnish resident since 1974) brings two large canvases inspired by painters: Symphony No. 13 (2014) by the revolutionary Polish-Ukrainian Soviet artist Kazimir Malevich, and No. 14 (2015) by Edvard Munch’s famous painting The Scream. Bruk may seem to write in a kind of stream of consciousness, but his works are subtly bound together through a network of motifs and details of scoring. Even so, the orchestral writing in both pieces is wildly inventive, a kaleidoscope of colour and counterpoint, sitting somewhere between Villa-Lobos and Pettersson in its profligate abundance, with hints here and there of Prokofiev and Szymanowski.
Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra
Imantis Resnis, conductor
Listen To This Recording:
Symphony No. 13, The Artist Kazimir Malevich (1878-1935) (2014) (34:12)
- I. Kazimir (15:04)
- II. The Two Squares, Black and Red (1915) (6:46)
- III. The Revolution (12:22)
- Symphony No. 14, The Scream (2015) (31:35)
First Recordings
Fanfare Magazine :
‘The two performances by the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, led with conviction by Imants Resnis, are all a composer could ask for, as is the clear recorded sound.’
—Henry Fogel, Fanfare Magazine, July/Aug 2024
La Folia :
‘Bruk’s programmatic symphonies offer atonal easy listening, vigorous and angular but not difficult.’
—Ethelbert Nevin, La Folia
WTJU :
‘Bruk’s style is mostly tonal, which adds to the power of the work. We have a frame of reference. We know where the music is supposed to go — even when it doesn’t. And Bruk is a master orchestrator. Individual instruments, pairs, and trios, are used effectively.
The Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra directed by Imants Resnis delivers spirited performances. I’m hoping Toccata Classics will eventually release all Bruk’s symphonies. Every one I’ve heard so far is well-crafted and has a distinct personality.’
—Ralph Graves, WTJU
Classical Lost and Found :
‘In a single movement lasting just over half an hour [symphony no.14] is one of the composer’s finest symphonies. […]
As in Toccata’s previous volume devoted to Bruk’s orchestral music, these performances are by the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra under prominent Latvian conductor Imants Resnis (b. 1949). Together, they give us captivating accounts of another two Bruk symphonies, which rank with his finest. […]
They present consistently robust sonic images of these colorfully scored works in a wonderful venue that enriches this music all the more.’
—Robert E. McQuiston, Classical Lost and Found
AllMusic :
‘Both of the symphonies here depict artists and artworks, and the album might make a good introduction to Bruk’s style; although the forms remain very free, one feels that the music is recognizably appropriate to the subject. […]
Resnis and the Lithuanian State Symphony convey this atmosphere in full, in richly frenetic performances. Bruk is a contemporary symphonist whom most listeners will not know and who is difficult to classify with precision. It is important that he is getting his due here.’
— James Manheim, AllMusic