The works of chamber music that showcase the rich dark sounds of the viola are relatively scarce. Brahms’ two sonatas, Op. 120, elegant and highly expressive, demonstrate the extreme sensitivity of the viola with a simplicity that only perfect mastery of musical composition can achieve. The music of Brahms and Yuri Bashmet’s viola were made for each other. Here again, Yuri Bashmet has transformed the previously modest viola into a brilliant solo instrument in its own right.
Admirably accompanied by his daughter, Ksenia Bashmet, he takes us into a world of depth, virtuosity and technical excellence. Bashmet founded the International Viola Competition in Moscow, a competition that remains, to this day, the only one devoted to this instrument in Russia. This renowned viola player constantly makes international headlines in the realm of music, and his talent has been rewarded on countless occasions in both Russia and the rest of the world.
Since 1983, when he was awarded the title of Artist Emeritus of the RSFSR, Bashmet has garnered titles and awards: winner of the State Prize of the USSR in 1986, People’s Artist of the USSR in 1991, and he also won the State Prize of the Russian Federation in 1994, 1996 and 2001, and in 1993 was named instrumentalist of the year (the equivalent of an Oscar in the world of music).
Here is the Sonata Opus 120 number 2, as played by violist Yuri Bashmet and pianist Evgeny Kissin:
