Sara Levy, the album's dedicatee, was the daughter of wealthy Jewish banker Daniel Itzig and received a humanistic and musical education in the spirit of the Haskalah, the Jewish Enlightenment.
Historical Context
During the reign of Frederick II (1740-1786), the viola was highly regarded as a solo instrument in Berlin and Potsdam, a reputation that continued into the 19th century.
Album & Artwork
The album is dedicated to Sara Levy, a patron and pianist who hosted a musical and literary salon in Berlin around 1800, which became a meeting place for the educated middle classes.
Interpretation
The recording of Johann Wilhelm Hertel's F major Viola Sonata includes original ornamentation from the violin version, transferred to the viola, offering insight into historical ornamentation practice.
Composition History
The majority of Sara Levy's significant music collection, thought lost after 1945, was rediscovered in Kiev in 1999 and returned, revealing rare original viola compositions and unknown versions of works.
Cultural Impact
Sara Levy, great-aunt of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, played an active role in the young composer's initiation of the Bach renaissance with his 1829 Berlin revival of Bach's St Matthew Passion.
Performer Biography
Francesca Venturi Ferriolo, the Italian violist on this album, co-founded the early music ensemble Il Quadro Animato, which won first prize at the Selifa early music competition in 2015.
