Viola has always been one of my favorite instruments, it has its own distinct mellow sound and personality, it is a shame that major string instrument composers did not compose much for this instrument, of course there are a few exceptions but viola always took the back seat to violin and even cello.
I have a few favorites among major viola players starting with David Oistrakh, yes believe it or not voila was his first instrument and he continued to play viola throughout his life and I can hear echoes of viola in the sound and style of his violin playing, I also like and have many CD’s from Kim Kashkashian who records for ECM.
And now we have two SACD’s from Channel Classics featuring Dana Zemtsov violist with some familiar and also rarely recorded music, works by Paul Hindemith and my favorite Ernest Bloch Suite for viola & piano, this last work alone is worth the price of admission.
If you like to hear viola performed and recoded in glorious sound these two Channel SACD’s are worth considering.
Vahe
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