Search - Peter Paul Koprowski, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Toronto Symphony Orchestra :: Redemption: Concerti by Peter Paul Koprowski

Striking Performance of Koprowski's Viola Concerto

josh1000 | West Hollywood, CA USA | 01/09/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this disc for Koprowski's viola concerto. The piece is very dramatic, and also straightforward and accessible-- especially for a piece that was written in the 1990s. It has almost a late-Romantic feel to it. And the soloist, Rivka Golani, helps by bringing out the drama with a fiery, in-your-face rendition that counters the commonly held belief that the viola is the "introvert" of the string family. (Are other violists tried of hearing that cliche, or is it just me?) She has a very intense, "masculine" style of playing, and the performance is lively and spirited. She really digs that bow in, especially in the lower registers-- for example, listen to her entrance in the first movement; that open C string just rings. I've always liked Golani's playing-- there's a cool weirdness to it-- and I think she does some of her best work playing these "dark" contemporary pieces. I highly recommend this recording-- especially if you are a violist who has an interest in contemporary music."