Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy - Sonata in C minor for Viola and Piano
Dmitri Shostakovich - Sonata in C major for Viola and piano, Op. 147
Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov - Elegy in G minor for Viola and Piano, Op. 44
Karel Špelina viola
Karel Freisl piano (Mendelssohn)
Lydie Majlingová piano (Shostakovich)
Josef Hála piano (Glazunov)
Karel Špelina is a native of Pilsen, from 1994 a Professor of viola and chamber music at the Prague Conservatoire. He began his career in the Pilsen Radio Orchestra (1962–1970), went on to join the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (1970–2002), eventually becoming its principal viola, and pursued also a career in solo and chamber music playing. He was a member of the Pilsen Radio Quartet (1962–1970), of the Ars rediviva ensemble (1970–2002) and the Bohuslav Martinů Piano Quartet, and also made occasional appearances with other chamber groups. As a soloist he has appeared a number of times with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Prague Chamber Orchestra, Brno Philharmonic, Chamber Philharmonic Pardubice, Pilsen Radio Orchestra and other orchestras. His large repertoire includes most of the viola works of the great composers of the 18th to 20th century and he has premiered dozens of contemporary compositions. He has made many recordings for radio and gramophone labels, including Supraphon, Panton, Pony Canyon, Clarton, ArcoDiva and others. He has also occasionally conducted courses at the Sándor Végh International Chamber Music Academy and continues to teach at the Ameropa International Chamber Music Festivals and Courses. He plays a C. Strnad (fecit Prague 1800) viola (here in the Mendelssohn and Shostakovich) and a T. A. Hulínský (1765, fecit Prague) viola in the Glazunov.
(ArcoDiva 2010)
| Property | Value |
| format | CD audio |
