Miklós Rózsa; Béla Bartók; Tibor Serly - Viola Concertos (Lawrence Power)

Information

Composer: Miklós Rózsa; Béla Bartók; Tibor Serly

• Rózsa - Viola Concerto, Op. 37
• Bartók - Viola Concerto, Sz 120 (completed by Tibor Serly)
• Serly - Rhapsody for viola & orchestra

Lawrence Power, viola

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Andrew Litton, conductor

Date: 2009

Label: Hyperion

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Review

Fans of Jascha Heifetz may well be familiar with Miklós Rózsa’s 1954 Violin Concerto, a tuneful, Bartók-Kodály synthesis that wears its influences very close to its sleeve. The Viola Concerto programmed here is a much later piece, more distinctive too in my view, its orchestration darker and subtler (try the very opening), its mood rugged and impulsive, and with thematic material that makes a deeper impression. Although Rózsa’s Hungarian groundsprings are nearly always audible, the Viola Concerto more reminded me of Walton in its alternation of frisky high spirits (the playful, offbeat scherzo) and melancholy. Bartók is still a strong presence though, especially in the finale, where the finale of Bartók’s Second Violin Concerto most readily springs to mind (try from around 4'41" into track 4). As for Lawrence Power’s performance, everything comes across with maximum impact – his agility at speed, his warm “walnut” tone (the superb recording makes plain he’s playing a fine instrument, ie a c1610 Antonio Brensi viola), and the innate musicality of his phrasing. Andrew Litton is in total command of every aspect of the score, inspiring his Bergen players to a performance that’s dramatic, incisive and atmospheric.

The Bartók Viola Concerto is presented in Tibor Serly’s familiar completion and again, there’s an urgency about the playing that is offset by a profoundly poetic response to the work’s many lyrical episodes, especially the central Adagio religioso. Litton has a keen ear for detail and Andrew Keener’s engineering team supports him with sound that is both transparent and full-bodied. There’s an “encore”, too, in Serly’s enjoyable Rhapsody based on “Hungarian Folk Tunes harmonised by Bartók”, tunes that dedicated Bartókians will surely recognise, much as Gershwin fans would recognise the show tunes in one of his theatre overtures. Again, both performance and recording are exemplary. An exceptional release in every way, with Calum MacDonald’s highly informative notes serving as a welcome bonus.

— Rob Cowan

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Miklós Rózsa (April 18, 1907 – July 27, 1995) was a Hungarian-American composer, best known for his nearly one hundred film scores. Born in Budapest, he studied at the Leipzig Conservatory and achieved early success with both concert and film music. The latter brought him to Hollywood, and Rózsa remained in the United States, becoming an American citizen in 1946. During his Hollywood career, he received three Oscars for Spellbound (1945), A Double Life (1947), and Ben-Hur (1959), while his concert works were championed by such major artists as Jascha Heifetz, Gregor Piatigorsky, and János Starker.

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Béla Bartók (25 March 1881 – 26 September 1945) was a Hungarian composer, pianist and ethnomusicologist who is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century. As an ethnomusicologist, his fieldwork with the composer Zoltán Kodály formed the basis for all later research in the field. Bartók employed folk themes and rhythms into his own music, achieving a style that was nationalistic and deeply personal. His notable works include the opera Bluebeard's Castle (1911), 6 string quartets (1908–39), the Mikrokosmos piano set, Concerto for Orchestra (1943), and 3 piano concertos (1926, 1931 & 1945).

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Tibor Serly (25 November 1901 – 8 October 1978) was a Hungarian violist, violinist and composer. He studied with Zoltán Kodály, Jenő Hubay and Leó Weiner at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. He also greatly admired Béla Bartók, and eventually became one of Bartók's great champions, writing and lecturing about him and conducting and recording many of his works. After Bartók's death in 1945, Serly undertook the task of completing his Third Piano Concerto as well as the Viola Concerto. Serly taught composition at the Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music in New York City, among other institutions.

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Lawrence Power (born 1977) is a British violist. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Juilliard School. Power won first prize in the Primrose International Viola Competition in 1999, and third prize at the Maurice Vieux International Viola Competition in 2000. Since his London solo debut with The Philharmonia, he has performed in the UK and abroad, appearing as soloist with many orchestras. He also has a prominent career as a chamber musician, as violist in the Nash Ensemble and the Leopold String Trio. Power plays a 17-inch (43.3 cm) viola by Antonio Brensi of Bologna from c.1610.

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