Program

Edvard Grieg, Violin Sonata No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 45

1. Allegro molto ed appassionato

2. Allegretto espressivo alla Romanza

3. Allegro animato

Grażyna Bacewicz, 4 Capricci

Franz Schubert, Fantasy for Violin and Piano in C Major, D. 934

Paul Hindemith, Viola Sonata No. 4, Op. 25

1. Sehr lebhaft. Markiert und kraftvoll

Thomas Tallis, Hear the Voice and Prayer

Rebecca Clarke, Passacaglia

Béla Bartók, Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56, BB 68/Sz. 68, BB 76

Johann Sebastian Bach, Partita for Solo Violin No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004

3. Sarabanda

Paul Hindemith, Viola Sonata No. 4, Op. 25

2. Sehr langsame Viertel

Johann Paul von Westhoff, Violin Sonata No. 3

Grażyna Bacewicz, Polish Capriccio

Béla Bartók, Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56, BB 68/Sz. 68, BB 76

Nicola Matteis, Ayres for the Violin

Paul Hindemith, Viola Sonata No. 4, Op. 25

3. Finale. Lebhafte Viertel

Rebecca Clarke, Morpheus

Ondřej Štochl, Il sogno fragile

Paul Hindemith, Viola Sonata, Op. 11, No. 5

Franz Schubert, Sonata in A Minor, D. 821, "Arpeggione"

Johann Sebastian Bach, Partita for Solo Violin No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004

5. Ciaccona

Igor Stravinsky, Elégie for solo viola, K072

George Enescu, Concert Piece for Viola and Piano

Paul Hindemith, Sonata for Viola and Piano (1939)

Alexander Glazunov, Elegy for Viola and Piano, Op. 44

Igor Stravinsky, Elégie for solo viola, K072

Dmitri Shostakovich, Viola Sonata in C Major, Op. 147

George Enescu, Concert Piece for Viola and Piano

Varvara Gaigerova, Suite for Viola and Piano, Op. 8

Henri Vieuxtemps, Capriccio in C minor for solo Viola, Op. 55

Paul Hindemith, Sonata for Viola and Piano (1939)

Johannes Brahms, Viola Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 120 No. 1

Benjamin Britten, Lachrymae for Viola and Piano, Op. 48

György Kurtág, Signs, Games and Messages for Viola

Zerren-reissen, Flapping Slapping

Paul Hindemith, Viola Sonata in F, Op. 11 No. 4

Antonín Dvořák, In Folk Tone, Op. 76

Garth Knox, Viola Spaces

Henri Vieuxtemps, Sonata in B flat Major, Op. 36

Paul Hindemith, Viola sonata No.1, Op. 25

Ástor Piazzolla, Grand Tango for Cello and Piano (arr. Brett L. Allen)

Concours de Genève 2025: Viola Semi-Final (Solo Recital)

Concours de Genève — International Music Competition

Cast

Brian Isaacs — Viola

Kinga Wojdalska — Viola

Eric Seohyun Moon — Viola

Sarah Strohm — Viola

Wassili Wohlgemuth — Viola

Ayaka Taniguchi — Viola

Alessandra Yang — Viola

Emad Zolfaghari — Viola

Program notes

The Concours de Genève - International Music Competition, founded in 1939 as the Concours International d'Exécution Musicale (CIEM), is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious international music competitions. Aiming to discover, promote, and support talented upcoming artists as they work toward international success, the Concours de Genève also keeps things fascinating by focusing on a different discipline in each edition. For the 2025 competition, violists take center stage!

In the first of two semi-final rounds, each of the eight remaining violists perform a solo recital entirely of their choosing, crafting a program that will best show off all the strongest aspects of their technique and artistry. The distinguished jury of established artists — including Tabea Zimmermann, Tomoko Akasaka, and Ettore Causa — will pay close attention to this and the following chamber music round in order to select the three contenders who will move on to the ultra-prestigious final…

A closer look: featured composers

Johann Sebastian Bach

Franz Schubert

Johannes Brahms

Paul Hindemith

Further listening: featured works

Partita for Solo Violin No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer)

Sonata in A Minor, D. 821, "Arpeggione"

Franz Schubert (Composer)

Viola Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 120 No. 1

Johannes Brahms (Composer)