Christian Euler, Paul Rivinius - English Viola Music: Bliss, Bax, Vaughan Williams (2013) [SACD]

The alto was for a long time an instrument that was hardly appreciated, even disliked by composers. Berlioz said about it: “Of all the instruments of the orchestra, the 1 whose excellent qualities have long been little known is the alto.” The present recording proposes 3 compositions of English music for alto & piano. The Sonata by Arthur Bliss (1891-1975), is a virtuoso piece “whose 1st performance took place at the home of the composer, with William Walton turning the pages,” writes Norbert Hornig. The Sonata by Arnold Bax (1883-1953), dating from 1929, is qualified, again by Norbert Hornig, as “a good example of the composer’s post romantic language, inspired by tradition but prudently open to modern harmonies & rhythms.” Then finally, the Suite by Ralph Vaughan-Williams in 8 movements, from 1934. Christian Euler & Paul Ravinius defend these little-known pages with rigor, giving the musical discourse the charm of poetic language tinted with nostalgia. Here is an SACD one will often return to.
~ Jean-Jacques Millo
Translation Lawrence Schulman
Christian Euler gives an English trio of powerhouse viola sonatas, each premiered by Lionel Tertis, some powerful playing with the help of pianist Paul Rivinius & the engineers at MD&G working in the 12th century Abbey of Marienmünster, 20 miles southeast of the label’s headquarters in Detmold.
The Bax Sonata in particular is a major work for the viola, full of deeply Romantic melody & soul, 2 glorious slow movements flanking a violent excursion into mankind’s darker side (it was written in the aftermath of World War I), which Euler gives a long, impassioned reading in which the darker contours of his tone project forth with stunning force in the 6ch configuration.
Of the other 2, written in the mid 1930s, Euler’s approach does similar wonders for the Bliss, a thing of surprising, swirling beauty, than for the more conventional Vaughan Williams, which he & Rivinius threaten to overwhelm at times.
~ Laurence Vittes