Romance for viola and orchestra

Max Bruch's Romance for Viola and Orchestra op. 85 was composed in 1911, three years before the composer's death, and belongs to his late works. Written in the warm key of F major, the piece displays Bruch's characteristic melodic writing and his fondness for expressive solo passages. The viola, used rarely as a solo instrument, is given here a rewarding role that showcases its warm middle register and velvety sound.

Stylistically, the Romance operates entirely within the tradition of German late Romanticism. Bruch, who composed conservatively throughout his life and remained closed to modern trends, created here a work of melodic beauty and orchestral sophistication. The musical language recalls his famous violin concertos, particularly the G minor concerto, but shows in its treatment of the viola's lower register a special warmth and intimacy.

The work is said to be among Bruch's most popular solo pieces for strings, even though it stands in the shadow of his violin concertos. The orchestral treatment with large forces including three horns gives the Romance orchestral richness without overwhelming the solo voice.