Composer of the Week: Ernest Bloch

I’m a little bit early, but this weekend would be the birthday of Swiss-American composer Ernest Bloch, who was born on the 24th of July, 1880.  If you’re not familiar with Bloch’s works, I encourage you to check them out! He wrote absolutely beautiful lush parts for strings, both in his solo works, and orchestral music.

Here’s the first part of his work for cello and orchestra, Schelomo, performed by Rostropovich and the Orchestre Nationale de France conducted by Leonard Bernstein.

And here’s a movement from his Concerto Grosso No. 1 for String orchestra with piano obbligato.

Aram Gharabekian conducts the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia.