Violist

Contents: Biography

Repertoire

Fantasy and Farewell CD

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Roger Myers – Biography

ROGER MYERS enjoys an impressive record of performing and teaching both here and abroad and has traveled widely presenting critically acclaimed concerts and master classes in countries on four continents including Austria, Norway, Scotland, China, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico as well as the U.S.A. At the University of Texas at Austin he is Professor and Head of The String Division and was the recipient in 2007 of the School of Music Teaching Excellence Award. He has been associated with some of the nation’s most prestigious summer festivals including the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival in Maine, the International Festival Institute at Round Top, Texas and the Marrowstone Music Festival in Washington State. In June of 1997 he served as the youngest ever Artistic Director and Host Chairman of the XXV Silver Anniversary Viola congress, an event praised by the “Strad” magazine as a “joyful and instructive week. . . a mixture of edification and entertainment”. He has served seven summers on the faculty of the Idyllwild Arts Summer Music Program in California and taught at the Beijing International Music Festaval and Academy and the International School for Musical Arts in Canada. He regularly performs at the Festival de Musique on the French West Indian island of St. Barthelemy and is an artist at the Sunflower Festival in Topeka Kansas and the Buzzards Bay Musicfest in Marion Massachusetts. He is the founder and Artistic Director of the Blanton Chamber Music Series at the Blanton Museum in Austin. In 2009 he held a Visiting Professorship teaching at the University of Southern California. Roger Myers was born in Sydney, Australia where he played with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra while still a student. He has lived in the United States since 1987 when his Sydney Conservatorium String Quartet was invited to become the international quartet in residence at Michigan State University. Later he studied on scholarships with Donald McInnes at the University of Southern California and on completion of his Masters degree the string faculty named him its most outstanding graduate of the year. Presenting solo and chamber performances hailed internationally, the Toronto Star described his playing as “Spirited” and the New Zealand Evening Post proclaimed him a “Fine violist” whose playing was “various and entertaining”. Roger Myers has given chamber music performances with such artists as Lynn Harrell, Jean Barr, Martin Canin, Steve Doane, Sidney Harth, Suren Bagratuni, Yehonatan Berick, Norman Fischer, Jorja Fleezanis, Daniel Heifetz, Mark O’Connor, Ronald Leonard, Martin Lovett, Donald McInnes, Felicia Moye, Kurt Nikkanen, James Parker, Tsuoshi Tsutsumi, Kathleen Winkler, Zvi Zeitlin, the Brentano, Cavani and Miro String Quartets and the Dorian Wind Quintet. He has performed with the

Roger Myers – Biography Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, as principal violist with the Santa Fe Pro Musica and had the honor of being asked to play with the New West Symphony Orchestra in Los Angeles as principal viola on tour with Andrea Bocelli. Chamber performances include concerts with the Camerata Pacifica chamber music organization in California, at the Niagara International Chamber Music Festival in Canada and most recently with the Da Camera of Houston. In 2004 Roger had the honor of performing as a featured soloist on the 100th birthday tribute concert to the great violist William Primrose at the XXXII International Viola Congress in Minneapolis and in 2005 enjoyed a successful Carnegie Hall debut with the newly formed Texas Piano Quartet. Roger has performed some recent important World Premiere’s including in 2006 the Piano Quintet by Kevin Puts with the Texas Piano Quartet and in 2008 the World Premiere of Michael McLean’s Suite for Viola and Orchestra. In the summer of 2009 he played in the Mid-West Premiere of violinist Mark O’Connor’s Third String Quartet with the composer and in May of 2011 he will play the World Premiere in Los Angeles of a Viola Concerto written for him by composer Peter Askim in a concert celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Idyllwild Arts Academy at the REDCAT Theater in Walt Disney Concert Hall. In 2014 Mr. Myers was the recipient of the coveted Best in Show by the Global Music Awards. Mr. Myers plays a beautiful and rare J.B. Guadagnini viola from Parma made in 1763.

Roger Myers – Repertoire Viola Solo Repertoire With Orchestra Baroque: Telemann- Concerto Telemann- Double Concerto Bach- Brandenburg Concerto no. 6(both parts) Bach- Eflat concerto Classical: JCF Bach- Concerto for Viola and Keyboard in EFlat Mozart- Sinfonia Concertante Stamitz- D Maj Concerto Hoffmeister- D Maj Concerto Hummel- Fantasie Romantic: Berlioz- Harold in Italy Bruch- Romance Bruch- Double Concerto for Clarinet(Violin) & Viola Schumann- Marchenbilder(Orchestrated) 20th Century: Bartok Concerto Britten Lachrymae Britten Double Concerto for Violin and Viola Hindemith Trauermusik Shostakovich Sonata Op. 147(Orchestrated) 21st Century: Michael McLean Suite for Viola and Orchestra(2008) Viola Solo Recital Repertoire Baroque: CPE Bach- Sonata in gminor W88 JS Bach- Gamba Sonatas (3) JS Bach- Solo Cello Suites no. 1&5 WF Bach- Sonata in c minor Biber- Passacaglia for Solo Viola Corrette- Sonata in BFlat Flackton- Sontata in G Major Handel- Sonata in C Major Telemann- Sonatas in BFlat and DMajor

Roger Myers – Repertoire

Classical: Beethoven- Notturno Op. 42 in D Major for Viola and Piano Beethoven- Seven Variations on a theme of Mozart Beethoven- Duet in E flat major "mit zwei obligaten Augengläsern" for Viola and Cello Haydn- arr. Piatagorski, Divertimento in D Hummel- Sonata in EFlat Major Op.5 no. 3 Hummel- Fantasie Mozart- Violin and Viola Duos in G &B Flat Major Romantic: Cassado- Requiebros Faure- Après un Rêve Brahms- Sonatas or Viola and Piano In f minor and E Flat Major Op.120 Brahms- Zwei Gesange Op91 Bruch- Romance Op. 85 Halversen- Passacaglia for Violin and Viola Paul Juon- Sonata in D Major Op.15 Liszt- Romance Oubliée Mendelssohn- Sonata in c minor Sibelius- Rondo for Viola and Piano Schubert- Litany for All Souls Day Schumann- Adagio and Allegro Op.70 Schumann- Marchenbilder Op.113 Schumann- Romances Op. 94 Vieuxtemps- Capriccio for Solo Viola 20th Century: Arthur Benjamin- Jamaican Rumba and From San Domingo Bloch- Meditation and Processional Bloch- Suite Hebräique Britten- Lachrymae Op.48 Rebecca Clarke- Sonata Hindemith- Trauermusik Hindemith- Sonata Op.11 no.4 Hindemith- Sonata (1939) Martinu- Madrigals for Violin and Viola Persichetti- Parable for Solo Viola Ravel- Pièce en Forme de Habanera Shostakovich- Sonata Op.147 21st Century: Michael McLean- Suite for Viola and Piano (2008)

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TRACKS 1. Suite for Viola and Orchestra: I. Prelude 2. Suite for Viola and Orchestra: II. Passacaglia 3. Suite for Viola and Orchestra: III. Chorale 4. Marchenbilder (Fairy Tales), Op. 113: I. Nicht schnell 5. Marchenbilder (Fairy Tales), Op. 113: II. Lebhaft 6. Marchenbilder (Fairy Tales), Op. 113: III. Rasch 7. Marchenbilder (Fairy Tales), Op. 113: IV. Langsam, mit melancholischem Ausdruck 8. Viola Sonata, Op. 147 (arr. V. Mendelssohn): I. Moderato 9. Viola Sonata, Op. 147 (arr. V. Mendelssohn): II. Allegretto 10. Viola Sonata, Op. 147 (arr. V. Mendelssohn): III. Adagio Delos Press Release Throughout its history, the viola has served primarily as an ensemble instrument, with its solo applications largely restricted to recital music like solo sonatas or other works with piano. Mainstream composers through the ages have indeed written fine concertos or other works for viola and orchestra, but they are (for various reasons) quite uncommon compared to concertos featuring more “glamorous” instruments like piano or violin. While some of their creators have also reworked their creations into piano versions, the reverse process – converting original piano parts into orchestral scores – is almost unheard of … until now. In this – violist Roger Myers’ first album on Delos – our artist offers the remarkable fruits of a “new formula” to expand the limited repertoire for viola and orchestra: well-known chamber masterpieces by Robert Schumann (Märchenbilder) and Dmitri Shostakovich (the Sonata for Viola and Piano: his final work) that have been skillfully transformed into impressive and colorful orchestral works. Myers commissioned the third work (Suite for Viola and Orchestra) from composer Michael McLean (who also orchestrated the Schumann) in memory of his mother. The Schumann and the McLean are presented here in world premiere recordings. Myers, a violist of international renown, offers exceptional performances that combine deep feeling, glowing tone and stunning virtuosity. He collaborates here with the legendary London Symphony Orchestra under the sensitive baton of Michael Francis.

Roger Myers – Fantasy and Farewell CD Reviews

“Fantasy and Farewell.” Michael McLEAN: Suite for Viola

and Orchestra (2008). Robert

SCHUMANN: Märchenbilder, Op. 113 (1851; arr. Michael

McLEAN, 2011). Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH: Viola Sonata, Op.

147 (1975; arr. Vladimir MENDELSSOHN, 1991-92). Roger

Myers (vla), London Symphony Orchestra, Michael Francis

(cond.). Delos DE 3441 (1 CD) (http://www.delosmusic.com/).

Commissioned by Myers to commemorate his mother’s passing, McLean provides a

particularly expressive tonal work, a welcome cross between Barber and John Adams.

Three movements seem short for a suite; however the forms, Prelude, Passacaglia and

Chorale warrant the designation. The last movement elegantly integrates Bach’s Befiehl

du deine Wege, from the St. Matthew Passion. McLean’s warm orchestration

extends to Schumann’s four pieces. He takes appropriate liberties, permitting themes to

pass flexibly, more so than Schumann might have done. Myers rides the Lebhaft as if a

wild horse.

The Shostakovich arrangement is the biggest effort, difficult all around. Its composer’s last

completed work, the severe and restless Sonata asks the viola to labor as an indifferent

piano figures along. I’m not entirely convinced that Rumanian violist/composer

Mendelssohn’s viola with string orchestra and celesta arrangement makes sense. The

slight glimmer of Beethoven’s “Moonlight” sonata is more evident with a piano. Maybe

the piano and viola were equals, but now effort is required to keep the orchestra from

becoming merely an accompaniment. Icy gestures well suited to the piano are less

effective, and generally, the orchestra mass must tread lighter if not to overwhelm. Violists

are forever craving repertoire, and so it’s understandable this transcription finds a fresh

recording. Yuri Bashmet (DG B0007622-02) may take the arrangement slower in

places: His is definitely more forlorn, maybe tending to fall apart which fits the Sonata’s

spirit. However, Delos comes through with more details at the brisker pace.

The Londoners are lush in the McLean, light footed in the Schumann, and appropriately terrifying in the Shostakovich. Myers is a bold player, comfortable and deft across these varied concertos. He employs a gorgeous 1763 Guadagnini.

Fantasy and Farewell. McLean: Suite. Schumann: Märchenbilder op.113 (arr. McLean). Shostakovich: Viola Sonata op.147 (arr. V. Mendelssohn) Three unrelated viola works performed with varying success Wednesday, 19 March 2014

Musicians Roger Myers (viola) London Symphony Orchestra/Michael Francis Composer McLean, Schumann, Shostakovich Catalogue number Delos DE 3441

Michael McLean’s Suite for viola and orchestra was written in 2008 for

Roger Myers at whose request the composer took Bach’s chorale ‘Befiehl du deine Wege’

from the St Matthew Passion as his inspiration. It forms the basis of the last movement,

which is conceived as a set of free variations after the fashion of Bach’s own chorale

preludes, but insinuates itself into the opening Prelude as well, making for a closely knit

composition with a dark-sounding Passacaglia at its centre. Himself a violinist, McLean

has a player’s understanding of how best to present the viola in a solo role, and has written

idiomatic passagework and sonorous cadenzas that Myers seizes gratefully, with

consistently beautiful tone and unshakeable aplomb.

McLean’s orchestration of Schumann’s Märchenbilder is agreeably done, but the constant

changes of the instrumental palette disturb the intimacy that has made the original one of the

best-loved pieces in the repertoire. I kept wishing Myers were partnered by a first-class

pianist, able to conjure at least as many colours from the keyboard alone.

Rather than just orchestrating the piano part of Shostakovich’s Sonata, violist Vladimir

Mendelssohn has redistributed the musical material between soloist and string orchestra.

Myers adapts convincingly to his role as a primus inter pares and, despite some fidgety

phrasing, this is a reading that packs a strong punch, aided by Delos’s state-of-the-art

recording. Carlos María Solare