Paul Cortese & Óscar Martín, York Bowen: Viola Sonata No 1 in C minor, Op 18. Review

Paul Cortese is a violist that is a part of the Larsen Strings Family and plays Virtuoso strings. The Principal violist says, “Larsen Virtuoso strings are very responsive and colourful, somehow inviting many colour changes and solid intonation. I am very pleased to recommend these strings to any aspiring string player.” Cortese has been a Posh Boy recording artist since 1995, recording as well for Chandos, ASV Digital, and Crystal. Known as one of the foremost interpreters of Paul Hindemith, Cortese has a diverse and rich record catalog. Cortese also teaches, he explains, “Besides my activity in the Conservatori del Liceu in Barcelona as viola professor and chamber music professor, I also am the administrator of the largest group on Facebook dedicated to the viola, with more than 10,000 members-Facebook Violists. I also play chamber music and teach all through Europe.”

Cortese is an active protagonist of the viola and graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with the famed violist Joseph dePasquale. He also pursued his studies at the University of Illinois and the New England Conservatory in Boston. While completing his studies, Cortese performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Boston Symphony and was offered the Principal Viola position in the Teatro alla Scala. In 1986 he became the leader of the viola section of the Gothenburg Symphony orchestra under their music director Neeme Järvi. Making his debut with the orchestra in Alice Tully Hall in New York in 1991, he has also been principal guest viola in over a dozen European orchestras; Cortese dedicates an increasing amount of time to solo and chamber music playing. His performances have extensively been heard in the US, Canada, and the European Union, collaborating with numerous chamber music groups such as the Kandinsky Trio, the Trio Arbós, and various string quartets, participating in international music festivals such as Tanglewood, Evian, Banff, Musicades of Lyon, Granada, Grand Teton, and many others. He has performed on numerous occasions with Context, a flexible chamber group of historically informed interpretations in the US. In Spain, he has been a member of the Beethoven Klavierquartett for over fifteen years and has recently been performing with the Jacques Thibaud String Trio. Born in Wisconsin to Italian parents, Paul currently lives in Barcelona, Spain, where he is a professor of viola and chamber music at the conservatory of the Liceo, along with a regular masterclass in the Arcos Academy in Madrid. Cortese is now teaming up with pianist Óscar Martín to release York Bowen: Viola Sonata No 1 in C minor, Op 18.
[section label=”Bottom Line”]Bottom Line: Edwin York Bowen (1884–1961) was an English composer, pianist, talented conductor, organist, violist, and horn player. Unfortunately, many of his works remained unpublished and unperformed until after he died in 1961. Bowen’s musical career spanned more than fifty years, during which time he wrote over 160 works. Bowen’s compositional style is extensively deemed ‘Romantic,’ and their lush harmonic language often characterizes his works. Bowen was one of the most notable English composers of piano music of his time. York Bowen: Viola Sonata No 1 in C minor, Op 18. is Cortese and Martín performing all three movements from Bowen’s Sonata No. 1 in C minor, Op 18 for viola and piano that spans thirty minutes. The “Allegro Moderato” movement opens the album, instantly, Bowen’s diatonic harmony with the use of chromaticism can be heard over a pedal. That harmonic augmentation combined with romantic melodies gives Bowen’s music much depth. Cortese’s viola projects a warm sound that is empowered by confidence and technical fluidity. The C section’s lyricism is performed with beauty and balance as both performers flow with the music’s waltz time and its melodic path. “ii Poco Lento e cantabile” is a gentle middle section of the sonata. The metric modulation in the middle section is a beautiful color change and lift. Cortese’s tone is balanced in all registers, and his judicious use of vibrato is very tasteful. “iii Finale presto allegro molto” is performed with energy with Cortese’s tone matches the energy of the music and its playfulness. In general, York Bowen: Viola Sonata No 1 in C minor, Op 18 is an excellent performance of Bowen’s work by two exceptional performers. It is excellent to hear Bowen’s works being recorded; many of the composer’s works remain unpublished. Although many of Bowen’s solo instrumental works contribute significantly to modern performance repertoire, his orchestral and chamber works are rarely performed or recorded. This recorded performance is a welcome addition, and that’s the short of it!