5.0 out of 5 stars
Rubbra/Walton Viola Concerti, February 4, 2012
This review is from: Walton, Rubbra: Viola Concertos (Audio CD)
Listeners who have discovered the music of Edmund Rubbra and respond to the warm, disciplined, religiously-inspired ardor of this twentieth-century extension of the Bruckner/Franck temperament will not want to miss this recording. You also get to hear the original version of William Walton's much more familiar concerto, as well as a well-crafted Rubbra work for unaccompanied viola. But the Viola Concerto is the gem of the album. Two examples of the novel beauties in this score evident even upon first hearing are an unobtrusive but effective extended timpani roll behind a solo viola passage and later, during an orchestral passage, an underpinning "ticking clock" harp figure. I believe this is the last major Rubbra orchestral piece to become available in a modern recording. It is a most welcome addition to the discography.
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2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
ON FIRE!!!, September 10, 2009
This review is from: Walton, Rubbra: Viola Concertos (Audio CD)
This man is at the forefront of viola playing and is rocking it at its core! Unbelievable tone! Clever and passionate phrasing! The viola will never be the same! This recording of Walton is top notch and better than any violinist who has ever recorded it. I would put him right up there with Nobuko Imai, Kim Kakashian, and Paul Cortese.
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