Maxim Fedotov, Russian PO/Dmitry YablonskyNaxos 8.557793 ***

Poor Max Bruch. He wrote one of the great 19th-century romantic concertos, but sold it outright to a publisher, and its huge success never earned him an extra cent. Small surprise, then, that he tried to write a follow-up that hit all the same spots but still sounded a little different, with the emphasis on "little". His Third Violin Concerto shows the familiar, apparently effortless knack for effective solo writing, and, even 
 in an opening movement marked Allegro energico, yearns to stride with long-stepped urgency. What's lacking, however, is strength of personality; it all sounds just a little bland. Maxim Fedotov invests his performances of the Second and Third concertos with luscious tone and fervent expressiveness, and Dmitry Yablonsky offers sturdy support. www.naxosdirect.ie