In an online interview for The Epoch Times, Mr. Schloifer shared both his feelings about and vision of this forgotten piece by Gliere.
A new reading: Two Concert Pieces for Viola and Solo Strings
“The reason why I made the transcription of the wonderful Concerto for Coloratura Soprano and Orchestra is that I met lots of people who did not know the original work. Sometimes they didn’t even know the composer Gliere—sometimes even soprano singers who performed it had no knowledge of him.”
Eckart Schloifer believes Gliere should be remembered. For Schloifer, Gliere is a highly romantic composer with great breadth and profound knowledge of the orchestra’s different and colorful instruments; and he is a composer of wonderful melodies, notable for their tension.
“Since the moment I first heard this work, I felt it was a unique work for a singer as a soloist in a concerto.”
For Schloifer, arranging the Concerto with the viola as the solo instrument was just logical, as the viola has been his professional instrument for many years.
“The version for viola and string orchestra makes for an easier performance, and moreover, it is a challenge for a viola soloist to perform a Romantic piece with a smaller orchestral accompaniment.”
It turns out the viola is capable of not only of reproducing the soprano range, but is also able of performing passages composed for wind instruments, which were originally included in the Concerto.
“In the end I was able to use double-stops and some other typical viola effects, and I could omit the wind instruments. In making this choice, I also took into consideration the great capacity and musicianship of viola players nowadays.”
Schloifer renamed the piece Two Concert Pieces for Viola and Solo Strings because there are two movements.
Eckart Schloifer: ‘Music gives me the highest inspiration’
Eckart Schloifer is one of the best-known violists internationally. He has studied violin and viola, and orchestral and chamber music. Since 2001 he has conducted as well. He has been teaching teaching music for 16 years.
He has performed in Germany and abroad with leading orchestras and conductors like Gerd Albrecht, Gilbert Amy, Matthias Bamert, Gary Bertini, Vladimir Delman, Peter Eötvös, Christoph Eschenbach, Michael Gielen, Cristobal Halffter, Hans Werner Henze, Bruno Maderna, Jacques Mercier, etc., and in high-class world venues like the Vienna Musikverein, Alte Oper Frankfurt/Main, Tonhalle Bern and Zurich, Radio France, Paris, the Philharmonic Halls of Colone, Duesseldorf and Berlin, the Hamburg Music Hall, Carnegie Hall in New York, the Hong Kong Concert Hall, the Sydney Opera House, etc.
Although he also composes music, Schloifer doesn’t favor any one composer. He feels that he always loves the music of the composer he is currently studying.
“At the moment I most love and adore Pfitzner, Tchaikovsky and Schubert. Why? My next concert contains works of these composers.”
“This reminds me of the old words of Hugo von Hofmannsthal, as he said: ‘Music starts when words stop.’ This is so true!”
Up-coming premiere: Camerata Ireland Orchestra with Paul Neubauer
The viola solo will be performed by the New York Juilliard School disciple—and previously the youngest principal player for the New York Philharmonic—Paul Neubauer. Mr. Neubauer will be accompanied by the “Camerata Ireland” Orchestra under the baton of Barry Douglas, founder of this world-famous classical ensemble.
Camerata Ireland was established in 1999 as an orchestra of Irish musicians, hoping to present to the world the best of classical music with the help of magnificent international artists.
Among the patrons of Camerata are Irish President Mary McAleese and Queen Elizabeth II.
Barry Douglas, the father of Camerata, became famous as the second non-Russian person to win the prestigious Tchaikovsky Gold Medal in Moscow.
Clandeboye Festival is organized by Camerata Ireland and is held each year. It aims to provide young performers from all over the world a podium to display their skills. It also allows them the opportunity to work with the Friends of Camerata Ireland Programme.
For more information about the Clandeboye Music Festival, please visit: http://www.camerata-ireland.com/
For more information about Eckart Schloifer: http://www.violinist.com/directory/bio.cfm?member=Eckart
