The viola takes centre stage in Alto appassionato, a richly lyrical programme performed by Timothy Ridout and Jonathan Ware. Released by Harmonia Mundi, the album moves through a broad vision of the French school, from the intimacy of Gabriel Fauré’s songs to the passionate sweep of César Franck’s Sonata in A major, heard here in Ridout’s own transcription for viola and piano.
Our featured video focuses on the title track, Appassionato by Henri Büsser, a compact but intensely expressive work that gives the viola a vocal, almost operatic presence. Ridout’s warm sound and flexible phrasing bring out the music’s ardour without sacrificing elegance, while Ware provides a finely shaded accompaniment full of colour and momentum.
Elsewhere, the programme includes transcriptions of several Fauré mélodies — among them Après un rêve, Nell and Clair de lune — alongside works by George Enescu and Léon Honnoré. The result is an album that treats the viola not simply as a darker violin, but as an instrument capable of remarkable refinement, intimacy and emotional depth.
Stream/download the album here: Alto appassionato | Timothy Ridout & Jonathan Ware
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