Rafaell Altino

Rafaell Altino takes his art to various parts of the globe as a soloist and chamber musician. In addition, he has served as the principal violist of the Odense Symphony Orchestra since 1997. A strong advocate for contemporary music, his latest album focuses on a significant group of contemporary viola pieces composed by women born or based in Brazil. Presenting BRAZILIAN WOMEN COMPOSERS: MUSIC FOR VIOLA, featuring works by Marisa Rezende (1944), Ilza Nogueira (1948), Silvia de Lucca (1960), Tatiana Catanzaro (1976), Rami Levin (1954), and Jocy de Oliveira (1936).

The viola occupies a special place in the psyche of musicians and composers. It is an instrument of mystery, soulfulness and even of protest and revolt. Rafaell Altino, principal viola of the Odense Symphony Orchestra, presents this exploration of his instrument’s power and possibilities as realized by six leading Danish composers. Some explore the viola as a tool for sound production while others relish what its distinctive also singing voice does to melodies. The results are as touching and warm as they are fearsome and defiant. All works on this release are commissioned by and dedicated to Altino by Danish composers, including Grawemeyer Award winner Bent Sorensen. Liner notes have been provided by Andrew Mellor, journalist and critic with a particular interest in the culture and music of Denmark and the Nordic countries.

Carl Nielsen’s incidental music The Mother was written for a gala celebrating the reunification of Southern Jutland with Denmark. The score first appeared in print in 2007 and has never been recorded in its entirety. This recording places the music in the right context for the first time, therefore providing us with a new picture of Carl Nielsen as a composer for the theatre.