Based on sacred Jewish themes and cast in the grand style of the Russian Romantics, Jacob Weinberg's nearly forgotten Piano Concerto No. 2 in C major (1944) is the focus of this world-premiere recording in the groundbreaking Milken Archive series. This concerto's splashy piano part, accessible tonality, and profusion of hummable melodies make it attractive and memorable, and the flamboyant performance by pianist
Jorge Federico Osorio and the
Barcelona Symphony, conducted by
Karl Anton Rickenbacher, is lustrous and evocative. Yet as pleasant as this concerto is, it is trite in spots, and Weinberg's heavy-handed references to nineteenth century models tend to weaken the music's impact. Considered for its form and content, it pales in comparison with the richly melodic but more rigorous String Quartet, Op. 55 (1950), which will satisfy listeners who need something tougher to chew on. The sinewy
Bingham String Quartet delivers the work with vigor and passion, though its sound is somewhat muffled and thick in the lower register. Shabbat Ba'aretz (1934), reverently performed by baritone Patrick Mason and the
BBC Singers under
Kenneth Kiesler, closes out the disc with intense religious feeling, but seems to be peculiar filler for this predominantly instrumental album. The sound quality is good, but disappointing by Naxos' usually high standards.