The Viola - Music's Secret Fire
Tom Service sets out to understand how the often overlooked viola can unlock music's secret fire.
Describing it as 'music's secret fire', Tom Service explores the world of the viola. Speaking to Lawrence Power, one of the world's great viola players, who has commissioned numerous works for his instrument, and Sally Beamish, viola player and composer, Tom sets out to unlock the key to the viola's elusive sound and to understand how it can drive the energy of the orchestra.
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Music Played
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    ![]()  Ralph Vaughan WilliamsSuite for viola and small orchestra: Prelude Performer: Lawrence Power. Performer: ѿý National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.- Hyperion.
- CDA 67839.
 
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    ![]()  William WaltonConcerto for viola and orchestra: 1st movement Performer: William Primrose. Performer: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: William Walton.- NAXOS.
- 8110316.
 
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    ![]()  Johannes BrahmsSonata in F minor Op.120`1 for clarinet or viola and piano: 4th movement, Vivace Performer: Lawrence Power. Performer: Simon Crawford‐Phillips.- HYPERION.
- CDA-67584.
 
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    ![]()  Wolfgang Amadeus MozartQuartet in C major K.465 (Dissonance) for strings: 2nd movement, Andante cantabile Performer: Heutling String Quartet.- EMI.
- 387920-2.
 
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    ![]()  Wolfgang Amadeus MozartSinfonia concertante in E flat major K.364 for violin, viola and orchestra: 2nd movement, Andante Performer: Vilde Frang. Performer: Maxim Rysanov. Performer: Arcangelo. Performer: Jonathan Cohen.- WARNER.
- 2564-627677.
 
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    ![]()  Hector BerliozHarold en Italie - symphony Op.16 for viola and orchestra: 3rd movement, Serenade Performer: Gérard Caussé. Performer: Toulouse Capitole Orchestra. Conductor: Michel Plasson.- EMI.
- 3714672.
 
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    ![]()  Hector BerliozHarold en Italie - symphony Op.16 for viola and orchestra: 1st movement, Harold aux montagnes Performer: Gérard Caussé. Performer: Toulouse Capitole Orchestra. Conductor: Michel Plasson.- EMI.
- 3714672.
 
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    ![]()  Ralph Vaughan WilliamsFlos campi - suite for viola, small chorus and orchestra Performer: Sarah Jeffrey. Performer: Teng Li. Performer: Elmer Iseler Singers. Performer: Toronto S O. Conductor: Peter Oundjian.- Chandos.
- CHSA 5201.
 
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    ![]()  Igor StravinskyElegie for viola (or violin) solo Performer: Dana Zemtsov.- CHANNEL CLASSICS.
- CCSSA-35714.
 
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    ![]()  Sally BeamishConcerto no. 2 for viola and orchestra: 1st movement Performer: Tabea Zimmermann. Performer: Swedish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Ola Rudner.- BIS.
- BISCD-1241.
 
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    ![]()  Lou ReedVenus In Furs Performer: The Velvet Underground.- SIRE.
- W0224CD.
 
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    ![]()  Gérard GriseyLes Espaces acoustiques Conductor: Stefan Asbury. Performer: Garth Knox. Performer: Asko Ensemble. Performer: SWR Rundfunkorchester Kaiserslautern.- KAIROS.
- KAI0012422.
 
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    ![]()  Alicia KeysIf I Ain't Got You Music Arranger: N/A. Performer: That Viola Kid (Drew Alexander Ford).
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    ![]()  George BenjaminViola, viola for 2 violas Performer: Misha Amory. Performer: Hsin-Yun Huang.- BRIDGE.
- BRIDGE-9387.
 
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    ![]()  Ralph Vaughan WilliamsFlos campi - suite for viola, small chorus and orchestra: final movement Performer: Sarah Jeffrey. Performer: Teng Li. Performer: Elmer Iseler Singers. Performer: Toronto S O. Conductor: Peter Oundjian.- Chandos.
- CHSA 5201.
 
Broadcasts
- Sun 7 Mar 2021 17:00ѿý Radio 3
- Fri 12 Mar 2021 16:30ѿý Radio 3
- Sun 29 Jan 2023 17:00ѿý Radio 3
- Fri 3 Feb 2023 16:30ѿý Radio 3
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Podcast
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                                        ![]()  The Listening ServiceAn odyssey through the musical universe, presented by Tom Service 
 
                     
            

