IDAGIO | York Bowen, William Walton - Viola Concertos 747313915880

Featuring

Diyang Mei
Brett Dean
Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern
York Bowen
Sir William Walton

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Historical Context

English composers like York Bowen and William Walton are generally underrepresented in the classical music canon, with composers from mainland Europe often achieving greater success in England.

Performer Biography

Diyang Mei, the violist on this recording, has been the principal violist of the Berliner Philharmoniker since 2022 and holds a guest professorship at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin.

Critical Reception

Lionel Tertis initially rejected William Walton's Viola Concerto as 'too modern' when it was offered to him for its premiere, only later realizing its significance in viola literature.

Composer Biography

York Bowen, born in 1884, was recognized as an exceptional talent from a young age, performing a piano concerto at eight and being called 'the most remarkable among the young English composers' by Camille Saint-Saëns at 19.

Composition History

Both York Bowen and William Walton composed their viola concertos for the famous English violist Lionel Tertis, who was actively seeking new material for his instrument.

Instruments

Diyang Mei performs on an Antonio Mariani viola, made in Pesaro around 1646, which is a generous loan from a member of the Stretton Society.

Composer's Artistic Vision

York Bowen, himself a violist, considered the sound quality of the viola superior to that of the violin, leading him to compose a significant number of works for the instrument.