For the Record, Op. 207: violist Hélène Clément plays Britten's Viola; Trio con Brio Copenhagen

August 11, 2022, 1:48 PM · Welcome to "For the Record," Violinist.com's weekly roundup of new releases of recordings by violinists, violists, cellists and other classical musicians. We hope it helps you keep track of your favorite artists, as well as find some new ones to add to your listening!

Violist Hélène Clément.

Bridge & Britten: Works for Viola
Hélène Clément, viola
Alasdair Beatson, piano
Sarah Connolly, mezzo-soprano

Known as the violist with the Doric String Quartet, Hélène Clément is the current holder of the viola previously owned by both Frank Bridge and Benjamin Britten. Her ambition, quickly formed once she first played this instrument, has been to create a testament to both composers and the instrument that binds them all together. "Frank Bridge owned and played the beautiful viola made by Francesco Giussani, in Italy, in 1843. Benjamin Britten was Frank Bridge’s most beloved pupil, and Bridge gave him the viola as a parting gift when Britten had to embark on a ship’s journey to the United States at the outbreak of the Second World War. The composers were never to see each other again. To record the viola repertoire of both composers, producing the very sound that they would have had in their ears, the sound that inspired their love for the instrument and its special language, became a priority for me."
BELOW: From 2018, Hélène Clément plays Britten's Elegy for Solo Viola on Britten's viola.

The Island in the City
Bent Sørenson, composer
Trio con Brio Copenhagen
Soo-Jin Hong, violin
Soo-Kyung Hong, cello
Jens Elvekjær, piano
Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor

Bent Sørensen’s triple concerto, L’Isola della Città ("The Island in the City") (2015), was written for Trio con Brio Copenhagen and featured in this album, which also contains his dramatic Second Symphony (2019). BELOW: Trailer for the album (in German with subtitles)

If you have a new recording you would like us to consider for inclusion in our "For the Record" feature, please e-mail Editor Laurie Niles. Be sure to include the name of your album, a link to it and a short description of what it includes.

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For the Record, Op. 207: violist Hélène Clément plays Britten's Viola; Trio con Brio Copenhagen

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