A weeklong celebration of the exquisite music written for this “inner voice”. The viola is the middle sister of the stringed instruments, sitting between the violins and the cellos, and playing in a clef written just for her. The viola is often misunderstood and mistaken for a “larger violin” or sometimes either forgotten about or made the butt of jokes. But, the viola sings with a dark richness that composers loved! Mozart, Brahms, and Dvorak played the viola; Hindemith did too. And these composers, plus many more, figured out how to let this instrument have her day in the sun with concertos, tone poems, and orchestral solos. You too will fall in love with the viola.
The Viola
Playlist
Episode 1
Georg Philipp Telemann: Concerto in G Major for Viola and Orchestra
Musica Antiqua Köln/Goebel; Deuter, viola
String Concertos
Archiv 463074; 10:49
Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto in d minor, RV. 540, II & III
Academy of Ancient Music/Manze; Jones, viola d’amore; North, lute
Concert For The Prince Of Poland
HM 907230; 6:47
Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B-flat Major, II & III
European Brandenburg Ensemble/Pinnock
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Pinnock, European Brandenburg Ensemble
Avie 2119; 9:53
Carl Philipp Stamitz: Concerto for Viola and Orchestra in D Major, III
Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn/Faerber; Wallfisch, viola
Music From Prague Vol 1 – Music By Dvorák, Dusek, Et Al
Vox 5148; 4:27
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major, K. 364, I
LPO/Mutter; Mutter, violin; Bashmet, viola
The Violin Concertos / Sinfonia Concertante
DG B0005078-02; 12:33
Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf: Menuetto II from Sonata for Viola and Double Bass
Chang, viola; Fuller, double bass
Duets
Musical Arts Society 41592; 2:26, :47
Episode 2
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major, K. 364, II & III
LPO/Mutter; Mutter, violin; Bashmet, viola
The Violin Concertos / Sinfonia Concertante
DG B0005078-02; 17:42
Felix Mendelssohn: Sonata for Viola and Piano in c minor, II
Gieler, viola; Bloomer, piano
Hummel – Joachim – Mendelssohn
Q 97002; 6:29
Carl Maria von Weber: Andante and Rondo Ungarese for Viola and Orchestra in C minor, J 79
Solistes de Moscou-Montpellier Chamber Orchestra/Caussé; Caussé, viola
Viola Concertos – Hummel, Weber, Hoffmeister, J. Schubert / Causse
Warner Classics 942376; 9:14
Niccolò Paganini: Terzetto concertante for Viola, Cello and Guitar in D major, II
R. Diaz, viola; A. Diaz, violoncello; Grey, guitar
Music for Strings & Guitar
Dorian 90237; 4:56
Hector Berlioz: Harold in Italy, Op. 16 (excerpt)
Nat’l Orch of France/Bernstein; McInnes, viola
Berlioz: Harold En Italie, Ouvertures / Bernstein, Previn
EMI 64745; 6:46
Carlos Guastavino: La Rosa y El Sauce
Kashkashian, viola; Levin, piano
Asturiana: Songs From Spain And Argentina
ECM 1975; 2:15
Episode 3
Hector Berlioz: Harold in Italy (excerpt)
Nat’l Orch of France/Bernstein; McInnes, viola
Berlioz: Harold En Italie, Ouvertures / Bernstein, Previn
EMI 64745; :39
Johannes Brahms: String Sextet No. 1 in B-Flat Major, II. Andante
Pasquier Trio and Friends; Pasquier, viola
Sextuor No. 1 Op. 18
HM 1951073; 10:17, :42
Johannes Brahms: “Gestillte Sehnsucht” from Songs for Alto, Viola & Piano, Op. 91, No. 1
Ferrier, alto; Gilbert, viola; Spurr, piano
Kathleen Ferrier Edition Vol. 10 – Brahms, Mahler
London 433477; 5:11
Johannes Brahms: Sonata in f minor for Viola and Piano, Op. 120 No. 1, III
Tertis, viola; Cohen, piano
Lionel Tertis – The Complete Columbia Recordings 1924-1933
Pearl 9918; 4:17
Johannes Brahms: Sonata in E-flat Major for Viola and Piano, Op. 120 No. 2, I
Kashkashian, vla.; Levin, p.
Brahms: Sonaten für Viola und Klavier / Kashkashian, Levin
ECM 457068; 8:28
Max Bruch: Concerto in e minor for Clarinet, Viola and Orchestra, I
LSO/Francis; King, clarinet; Imai, viola
The Clarinet In Concert – Bruch, Et Al / Thea King
Hyperion 66022; 7:31
Joseph Joachim: Hebrew Melodies, Op. 9, I
Gieler, viola; Bloomer, piano
Sonatas for Viola and Piano/Hebrew Melodies
Radio Netherlands 93008; 3:56
Johannes Brahms: “Geistliches Wiegenlied” from Songs for Alto, Viola & Piano, Op. 91, No. 2
Norman, alto.; Christ, vla.; Barenboim, p.
Lieder: Spanisches Lied • Mädchenlied • Ophelia-Lieder • Gestillte Sehnsucht • Geistliches Wiegenlied
DG 413 787-1; 6:10
Fritz Kreisler: Schön Rosmarin, Op. 55 No. 4
Imai, viola; Pöntinen, piano
Viola Bouquet
Phil 446103; 1:56
Episode 4
Ernest Bloch: Suite Hébraïque, No. 1 – Rhapsodie
Imai, viola; Pontinen, piano
Viola Bouquet
Philips 446103; 6:46
Claude Debussy: Trio for Viola, Flute, and Harp
Wilson, flute; Neubauer, viola; Allen, harp
The Complete Chamber Music of Claude Debussy
Delos 3167; 16:36
Ralph Vaughn Williams: Flos Campi
Bournemouth Sinfonietta and Choir/Mar; Riddle, viola
Vaughan Williams
Chandos 6545; 20:57
Manuel de Falla: Suite Populaire Espagnole (excerpts)
Dreyfus, viola; McDonald, piano
Romanze / Karen Dreyfus, Robert McDonald
Bridge 9016; 3:38, 2:16
Episode 5
Paul Hindemith: Der Schwanendreher, III
San Francisco Symphony/Blomstedt; Walther, viola
Hindemith: Orchestral Works
Decca 000201102; 9:12
Béla Bartók: Concerto for Viola and Orchestra (excerpt)
Budapest Symphony/Ligeti; Golani, viola
Bartók/Serly: Viola Concertos / Viola Rhapsody / Hungarian Peasant Songs / 3 Rondos
Conifer 189; 10:35
William Walton: Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, I & II
Royal Phil/Previn; Kennedy, viola
Walton: Violin & Viola Concertos; Vaughan Williams / Nigel Kennedy
EMI 749628; 13:07
Rebecca Clarke: Sonata for Viola and Piano, I
Westphal, viola; Swann, piano
Viola Sonatas
Bridge 9109; 7:41
Morton Feldman: The Viola in My Life, Part III (excerpt)
Phillips, viola; Tudor, piano
The Viola in My Life
New World 80657; 2:36
Pete Townshend: “Baba O’Riley” (excerpt)
The Who
Who’s Next
Decca DL 79182; 1:21
Traditional: “Man of Constant Sorrow” (excerpt)
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Rounder; 1:07
Percy Grainger: The Sussex Mummer’s Christmas Carol
Coletti, viola; Howard, piano
English Music For Viola / Paul Coletti, Leslie Howard
Hyperion 666687; 3:43