I read an article today about several excellent Viola players. What totally surprised me was that German-born Tabea Zimmermann was not mentioned. As such, I feel the obligation to tell you about her.
One of her recent recordings features the following:
Zimmermann & Gerstein: Sonatas for Viola & Piano Vol. 1
Brahms:
Viola Sonata No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 120 No. 2
Clarke, Rebecca:
Viola Sonata
Vieuxtemps:
Viola Sonata in B flat, Op. 36
All performed by Tabea Zimmermann (viola) and Kirill Gerstein (piano).
Tabea Zimmermann is an extraordinary musician, with a profound understanding of music and a natural way of playing. She is one of the leading contemporary viola players worldwide and last year was awarded the prestigious Echo Klassic as “Instrumentalist of the Year”.
Her previous CD of Bach and Reger Solo Suites received excellent reviews and was a Gramophone Editor’s Choice.
Gramophone Magazine wrote:
“Zimmermann’s performance is masterly, strongly characterised in the positive first movement and the witty Scherzo [of the Clarke]…[In the Vieuxtemps] too Zimmermann and Gerstein give an ideal performance. Recording of all three works is excellent, a credit to this new label.”
Here is Tabea Zimmermann in the wonderful music of Robert Schumann:
