Like any comparable documentation, this double CD is an attempt to escape its own transience, to carve achievements into stone with competence and conviction. Whether it succeeds or not, for all those interested in art, it is a kind of musical autobiography, as well as a record of a thirty-year journey that, since 1993, has been entirely devoted to contemporary music within the framework of the Musikkollegium Winterthur. Many new works for solo viola and orchestra have been premiered or heard live in Switzerland for the first time.
[…]
With the exception of Morton Feldman and Gija Kantscheli, I have developed a very personal and intimate relationship with all the composers represented on this CD production, which goes far beyond the music presented here. For the most part, these were solo and chamber music works composed for me or premiered by me, which subsequently led to greater collaboration with me as a soloist and the Musikkollegium Winterthur. CD 1 presents four world premieres, CD 2 three Swiss premieres. With the exception of the work by Hans Ulrich Lehmann, these are exclusively live recordings.
Jürg Dähler
Programme
CD 1 WORLD PREMIERES 77:25
Christian Jost (*1963)
[01] Mozarts 13097. Tag 18:28
Sinfonia concertante for violin, viola and orchestra (2005) *
Willi Zimmermann, violin
Jürg Dähler, viola
Musikkollegium Winterthur
Jac van Steen, conductor
Hans Ulrich Lehmann (1937–2013)
[02] Contradictions 16:11
(James Joyce: “viola in all moods and senses”)
for viola solo and chamber orchestra (2008)
Jürg Dähler, viola
Musikkollegium Winterthur
Heinz Holliger, conductor
Nadir Vassena (*1970)
[03] D’oltremare 15:35
for viola and small orchestra (2012) *
Jürg Dähler, viola
Musikkollegium Winterthur
Douglas Boyd, conductor
David Philip Hefti (*1975)
[04] Cantabile Concerto 27:08
for viola and orchestra (2019) *
Jürg Dähler, viola
Musikkollegium Winterthur
David Philip Hefti, conductor
World premiere recordings
* Live recordings
CD 2 SWISS PREMIERES 71:32
Morton Feldman (1926–1987)
[01] The Viola in My Life IV 13:47
for viola and orchestra (1971)
Jürg Dähler, viola
Musikkollegium Winterthur
Beat Furrer, conductor
Giya Kancheli (1935–2019)
[02] Styx 33:42
for viola, mixed choir and orchestra (1999)
Jürg Dähler, viola
Schweizer Kammerchor (Fritz Näf, Chorleiter)
Musikkollegium Winterthur
Jac van Steen, conductor
Heinz Holliger (*1939)
[06] Recicanto 24:00
for viola and small orchestra (2001)
Jürg Dähler, viola
Musikkollegium Winterthur
Heinz Holliger, conductor
Live recordings
