Ernest Bloch

The highly productive Swiss composer Ernest Bloch was born in Geneva on 24 July 1880. Some of his earlier music was strongly influenced by the intensity of his Jewish faith. He later moved to America and held a succession of teaching posts. He returned to Europe for a time, returning to America in 1941, where he died on 15 July 1959 in Portland, Oregon.

Further information: ernestbloch.org

 

A selection of articles about Ernest Bloch

Spotlight. Microtonal Connections - Keith Bramich listens to the Auerbach-Pierce Duo. '... nearly an hour of intriguing, sensitively played music.'

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Ensemble. A Curiously Unfamiliar Masterpiece - Malcolm Miller is impressed by Hana Mizuta-Spencer's performance of Ernest Bloch's Violin Concerto

CD Spotlight. Richly Nourished - Hebrew music from violinist Maurice Sklar, heard by the late Howard Smith. 'Sklar's inspirational concert is faithful from start to finish.'

Ensemble. Musical Values - Lara Downes plays Coleridge-Taylor, Chopin, Bloch, Bernstein transcriptions and Gershwin, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Creative Achievements - A seventieth birthday concert for Alexander Knapp, reviewed by Malcolm Miller

Memorable Distinction - Halida Dinova brings her Liszt to New Zealand, by Howard Smith

CD Spotlight. Seldom Recorded - Violin Sonatas by Copland and Zeisl, heard by Howard Smith. '... Schiff has developed as fair and sweet an approximation of her Olympian mentor as one may reasonably expect.'

A Beethoven Sandwich - Malcolm Troup's recital, heard by Julian Jacobson, also featured Bloch and Britten

Ensemble. Sonorities of Great Beauty - Malcolm Miller listens to the mandolin

Ensemble. Potent Emphasis - Malcolm Miller was at the recent Bloch and Israeli Music competitions

Wonderful Performances - Latvian magic from pianist Reinis Zarins, heard by Bill Newman

Ensemble. 'Back to Bloch' - Sybil Michelow on the Importance of being Ernest Bloch

Ensemble. Immense Promise - Malcolm Miller reports on the recent Israeli and Bloch music competitions

CD Spotlight. Unaffected Restraint - Halida Dinova plays music that tells stories, heard by Howard Smith. '... a mesmerising interpreter ...'

Ensemble. Better Late than Never - The BPSE Late Summer Festival, attended by Malcolm Troup

Ensemble. Deft Stagecraft and Virtuosity - Bloch and Israeli Music, heard by Malcolm Miller

Ensemble. Discoveries Ahead - Malcolm Miller samples 'The World of Jewish Music' in London

Ensemble. A Sparkling Concert - Sabbath music from the Zemel Choir, enjoyed by Malcolm Miller

Ensemble. Especially Successful - Gillian Wills reports from the Australian Fesival of Chamber Music

Ensemble. New Colours - Leslie Anne Lewis conducts a new chamber ensemble arrangement of Bloch's Sacred Service, reviewed by Malcolm Miller

CD Spotlight. A Healthy Revival - Choral music by Randall Thompson, enjoyed by Howard Smith. '... performances and recording are exemplary throughout.'

Ensemble. Complexity of Thought - Eugene Feygelson and Malcolm Troup play Beethoven and Bloch, reviewed by Malcolm Miller

Committed and Tough - Malcolm Troup plays Bloch's Piano Sonata, appreciated by Julian Jacobson

Ensemble. A Brilliant Idea - A Bernard Stevens celebration at London's Wigmore Hall, reviewed by Bill Newman

CD Spotlight. Heavy Artillery - Music by Bloch, Engel, Honegger, Milhaud and Szymanowski, heard by Howard Smith. '... an acceptable though rather dated style.'

Ensemble. Absorption of Influences - A revival of Bloch's early C sharp minor symphony, enjoyed by Malcolm Miller

Ensemble. Bloch revival - A concert by the Renaissance Chamber Orchestra, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen

Profile. To be a composer - Ron Bierman met and talked to Benjamin Lees

CD Spotlight - Profound beauty. '... a commendable account ...' Ernest Bloch's music, with Robert Anderson

CD Spotlight - Passion and integrity. 'Peter Bruns and Roglit Ishay prove convincing advocates for this singleminded and almost obsessive music.' Remembering Ernest Bloch, with Robert Anderson