Three Centuries of Russian Viola Sonatas

Featuring

Basil Vendryes
William David
Mikhail Glinka
Revol Samuilovich Bunin
Ivan Sokolov
Vissarion Yakovlevich Shebalin

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Compositional Technique

The Bunin Viola Sonata, dedicated to Dmitri Shostakovich, includes an intentional homage to Shostakovich's musical signature, DSCH, at its very end.

Historical Context

Vadim Borisovsky, a prominent violist, faced political scrutiny due to his affluent family background (his grandfather founded Smirnoff Vodka) and was accused of Nazi sympathies during Stalinist terror.

Historical Context

For much of the 20th century, Russian music was largely shaped by Vladimir Stasov, who favored national works by composers like Musorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, often neglecting chamber music.

Composer Biography

Vadim Borisovsky, who edited and completed the Glinka Viola Sonata, essentially created the Soviet school of viola-playing as a soloist, quartet-player, and teacher.

Composition History

Mikhail Glinka's Viola Sonata, though composed in 1825-28, remained unpublished and unperformed until Vadim Borisovsky brought it into the repertoire in the 1930s.

Historical Context

Conditions in Russia and the Soviet Union, including political disruptions and state control over commissioning, significantly impacted the production and reception of viola repertoire.