Marina Thibeault's last album with Orchestre de l'Agora was reviewed by The Whole Note!
On Viola Borealis the outstanding violist Marina Thibeault explores musical links between several northern cultures.
The main work here is the striking 2016 Viola Concerto by Lithuanian composer Pēteris Vasks. Thibeault gave the North American premiere in 2019, Vasks calling her playing “truly excellent – she has captured my message.” High praise indeed, and fully warranted.
Reckoning was originally a series of six improvisations for violin with pedal effects by the Anishinaabe composer Melody McKiver. Two brief sections from a transcription for solo viola are included here, with harmonics and bowing techniques replacing the electronic effects.
A spirited performance of Telemann’s Viola Concerto in G Major, generally considered to be the first ever written for the instrument, completes a fine CD.
By Terry Robbins via The Whole Note.
Click here to listen to the album.
Comments