Not quite alone - or not alone at all?
Violist Ursula Sarnthein plays key pieces and finds such as Armin Schibler's "Petit concert pour alto solo".
Do you know the difference between a viola and an onion? - Between a viola and a trampoline? - It's the story of a violist who... - Et cetera. Everyone can think of at least twenty such stories. It's fair to ask where these gags come from, and who was the first to make fun of this magnificent instrument?
In any case, Ursula Sarnthein's recording has - among other things - the merit of putting a stop to all those who peddle this kind of humor. It's an album of pieces for solo viola, with just a few notes held by another musician, hence the title.
Two monuments open the recital with majesty: the passacaglia in G minor from Biber's Rosary Sonatas, and the chaconne from Partita BWV 1004, both originally written for violin. Ursula Sarnthein's interpretation not only opens wide the doors of these cathedrals, but also illuminates them, highlighting details with subtle phrasing and lively agogics - in short, an in-depth knowledge of the Baroque style that's a joy to behold.
The violist then takes us on a delightful journey through traditional pieces from Denmark, Appenzell, Romania... These dances and other pieces are a joy to behold. Zäuerli surround virtuoso variations by Hoffmeister and a piece by Penderecki, breaking down genre boundaries. What's particularly pleasing when listening to these varied pieces is that Ursula Sarnthein is totally involved in each style. We forget the eras, we forget the categories between "serious" and "popular" music and, in the end, we listen only to Music. Another merit of this recording is that it puts the spotlight back on Swiss composer Armin Schibler (1920-1986), who is currently all too absent from concert programs. May the magnificent interpretation of his Small concert for solo viola get him out of purgatory!
Nicht ganz allein / Far from alone. Music for viola solo. Biber, J. S. Bach, trans. Danish, trans. Appezellisch, Alder, Hoffmeister, trad. Romanian doina, Penderecki, Ungureanu, Schibler. Ursula Sarnthein, viola. Prospero PROSP 0027
