Gál: Music for Viola, Vol. 1

Featuring

Hanna Pakkala
Sakari Oramo
Reijo Tunkkari
Irina Zahharenkova
Takuya Takashima
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra

Hans Gál

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Composer's Artistic Vision

Despite personal tragedies and the horrors of World War II, Hans Gál's works from this period do not show an overwhelming sense of despair, reflecting his ability to draw on an 'inner source of intact creative power'.

Composer Biography

Hans Gál received numerous awards from both his native and adoptive countries, including the Order of the British Empire and the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, First Class.

Album & Artwork

This album is the first volume in a mini-series dedicated to Hans Gál's viola works, which form a unique subgroup within his chamber music.

Composer Biography

Hans Gál, the composer, studied piano with Richard Robert, whose other notable pupils included Rudolf Serkin and Clara Haskil.

Composer Biography

Hans Gál and his composition teacher, Eusebius Mandyczewski, who was a close friend of Brahms, together edited the complete works of Brahms.

Historical Context

Hans Gál, who was of Jewish descent, was dismissed from his post as head of the Musikhochschule in Mainz and his music banned when the Nazis seized power in 1933.