The Violin Concerto also is very attractive. Its thematic material is primarily lyrical, and the relatively relaxed tempos of its outer movements (Reinecke was big on "moderatos" and "non troppos") give the soloist sufficient room to spin out some of the more intricate passagework without breaking much of a sweat. It was composed for Joachim, who apparently played it with pleasure until the Brahms concerto came along a few years later, after which time he dropped it like a hot potato. Reinecke was no Brahms, a fact that apparently galled him, but happily this didn't move him from his chosen path (can you imagine Brahms writing a harp concerto?).

The two romances for violin and orchestra show Reinecke's melodic gifts at their most winning. Violinst Ingolf Turban has no difficulty with this comparatively untaxing music despite the circumstances of live recording, letting his instrument sing out over the orchestra with an attractively full tone. Both conductor and ensemble sound completely at home in the idiom, and the sonics are consistently good. Whether or not you like this music really depends on your mood. It requires a bit of indulgence if you expect Romantic works in these forms to constitute major statements, but if you're looking for something comfortably easy on the ear that at the same time never sounds cheap or facile, you will likely enjoy this program.

--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com