Togawa/Grigoryan - Georges Onslow, Felix Mendelssohn: Romantic Viola Sonatas

The viola established itself as a prominent solo voice in the 20th century, but the three works here illustrate the instrument�s wide spectrum in chamber music of the 19th century. Concluding with a striking series of free variations, Mendelssohn�s Viola Sonata in C minor is notable for its combination of dignified melancholy, exuberance and lightness of texture, culminating in a striking series of free variations. Prague-born Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda�s Six Nocturnes, Op. 186 exemplify the beautifully crafted poetry and lyric features for which he was so admired, while Georges Onslow�s Viola Sonata, arranged from the cello original, is exceptionally elegant and virtuosic.