Rafaell Altino: Works for Solo Viola

Featuring

Rafael Altino
Poul Ruders
Anders Koppel
Niels Rosing-Schow
Karsten Fundal
Søren Nils Eichberg

Bent Sørensen

Did you know?

1/7

Performer Biography

Rafaell Altino began his musical studies in his home country of Brazil at the age of nine, with his father as his teacher.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Heinrich Koll, a violist with the Vienna Philharmonic, described the viola as 'the instrument of the inner soul; of despair, of distorted feelings, of suppressed revolt.'

Composition History

All the works on this album were commissioned by and dedicated to Rafaell Altino, with financial support from the Danish Arts Foundation.

Performer Biography

Rafaell Altino, the violist on this album, is the principal viola with the Odense Symphony Orchestra in Denmark, a position he has held for 21 seasons.

Historical Context

The viola, often relegated to harmonic filling in orchestral repertoire, has historically been the subject of 'cheap jokes' among musicians.

Instruments

Rafaell Altino performs on a French viola from the late 1700s and uses a James Tubbs bow, both on loan from the Instrument Fund of Odense Symphony Orchestra.

Performer Biography

Rafaell Altino is a strong advocate for new music and has commissioned several new works for the viola, including solo pieces by Brazilian composers Danilo Guanais and Marcilio Onofre.