Viola Concerto York Bowen

Julie Park, notably the first violist to receive a Royal Academy of Music Bicentenary Scholarship, now makes her debut on Linn with a programme of works by York Bowen. Together with her duo pianist Michel Xie, they perform the Viola Concerto in C minor, Op. 25, and the Phantasy in F major, Op. 54. Both dedicated to viola virtuoso Lionel Tertis, these pieces successfully exhibit the compositional developments from the composer’s early years to his more mature style. Composed in 1907, the concerto mirrors Bowen’s youthfulness and energy, whereas the Phantasy, dated 1918, delves into a deeper, more mature Romanticism. In 2022, four exceptional recipients of the Academy’s 2020/21 Bicentenary Scholarships scheme – Julie Park, Camilla Harris, Ossian Huskinson and Charlie Lovell-Jones – will each release a new album to coincide with the Royal Academy of Music Bicentenary celebrations.

The ‘warm voice’ of the viola has long been associated with pioneering British performers such as Lionel Tertis, for whom Vaughan Williams wrote his tuneful and elegantly crafted ‘Suite.’ Tertis famously rejected the score of Walton’s ‘Viola Concerto,’ but instantly regretted his decision on hearing its lyrical warmth and piquant blend of delicacy and bite at the premiere performed by Paul Hindemith. Howells’s somber but noble ‘Elegy’ is a memorial for a student colleague killed in action during World War I. Hailed as “one of the world’s greatest violists” (American Record Guide), Helen Callus continues to captivate audiences with her lyrical tone, technical command, and profound artistry. She is a sought-after recitalist, chamber musician, and concerto soloists. She has performed with such world-class ensembles as the Tokyo and Juilliard String Quartets, the BBC Concert Orchestra, and delighted audiences across the world. She is an award-winning recording artist and her seven releases have been met with the highest critical acclaim.