Concerto for Viola and Ensemble

As my first concerto, I approached the composition with a visual mindset, imagining it as a work of art on a canvas. My aim was to craft an illusion—one in which something is concealed yet subtly revealed at the same time.

In this concerto, the viola solo part serves as a familiar and central figure. The solo is melodic, warm, and suffused with nostalgia, metaphorically positioned at the heart of the canvas. Surrounding it, the ensemble provides a contrast, with textures and elements that are darker, more distorted, and sometimes aggressive.

These opposing energies intertwine, engaging in a dynamic exchange and drawing influence from one another, where what was once revealed becomes obscured, and vice versa.

Live recording from the premiere24/11/2024 at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester, UK

Recorded by Joe Hunt, Patrick Gorry

Mixing: Patrick Gorry