University of Cologne Acquires Letters by Max Bruch
The Institute of Musicology at the University of Cologne has purchased a collection of letters by composer Max Bruch for 95,000 euros.
Bruch was born in Cologne and, along with Jacques Offenbach, is probably the city’s most famous composer. He was active during the second half of the 19th century. Although Bruch did not achieve the same level of fame as his contemporary Johannes Brahms, his First Violin Concerto became a global hit and is a staple of the violin concert repertoire.
The letters comprise the correspondence between Max Bruch and his Berlin colleague Ernst Rudorff. In addition to offering insights into Bruch’s creative process, they contain a wealth of information about German musical life in the second half of the 19th century and, in particular, its interconnection with the cultural, historical, and political events of the time. For example, topics such as anti-Semitism and militarism are discussed, making the collection of letters an extremely valuable historical resource.
More info: https://idw-online.de/de/news873992
