Tchaikovsky: Variations On A Rococo Theme | Matt Cohen, viola; Carlos Avila, piano

00:18 Introduction by Matt Cohen
02:40 Tchaikovsky: Variations On a Rococo Theme, Op. 33
Matt Cohen, a 2017 Heifetz Institute Artist in Residence, is joined by Heifetz Institute faculty pianist Carlos Avila to play Tchaikovsky's "Variations On a Rococo Theme." It's a cello showpiece that Cohen plays on the viola.
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#tchaikovsky #rococo #viola

[@raissabenoccithibes3768]

This becomes even more special in the viola timbre.
I also should say that the pianist's energy is special.

[@ryoumeda4361]

What an amazing, virtuosic performance! I couldn't have believed it before that this piece could become a part of viola repertoire...you've raised the viola playing to the next level!!

[@petroffma]

What gorgeous, amazing tone!!!

[@user-hn8wg6qj9l]

Fabulous sound ,crystl clear intonation ,a great artist

[@ChWAT510]

Truly professional performance!

[@CRS1952]

Beautiful playing on a beautiful instrument.

[@emmaaxelson7821]

Wow!

[@neilcam]

I'll admit being biased in that I that I play the viola (very badly), but to my mind this piece sounds better on viola than on the cello! Great performance.

[@sarahdaramy-williams3062]

Beautiful

[@jeffv2154]

Perfection

[@GR-lt5sd]

Bravo!!!

[@colinwrubleski7627]

It almost does not sound like a transcription at all--- Cohen's viola seems to possess a very-'cello-like character, particularly in the initial presentation of the theme. Thoroughly convincing, and very well-done, indeed...

[@megabugginout]

One does the quite large viola to pull off a piece like this.

[@marcoam90]

Amazing performance!! Could it be possible to have access to the score of the piece? Thank you!

[@l.michna1318]

16:57 -18:35 ♡

[@joshuawarren8734]

Hope you’re getting on well! Miss ye from CIM

[@hartmutlindemann9735]

Bravo! Congratulations! I have a question about your great sounding instrument. It looks like a Maggini copy, may be of the Dumas?
Who made it, and what size is it? It looks quite large. I myself own a good sounding 1998 Gasparo copy by Andrea Robin-Frandsen of 17,5 inches and can see and hear many similarities

[@MatthewCohenViola]

Dear Hartmut, please forgive the lateness of the reply as I don't manage the TH-cam account that posted this and I haven't checked the comments in quite some time. Thank you so much for your kind words! To answer your question, the viola is indeed Maggini inspired although not a copy of any particular instrument; it's by Peter Westerlund made in 2014 and is actually quite reasonably sized--it is 16.25 inches with a small string length. I felt the need to downsize after playing a 17 inch Helmuth Keller viola for several years! Thanks again for your comment and hope we can meet in person one day :)

[@hartmutlindemann9735]

@@MatthewCohenViola Dear Matthew,
Yes, it would be nice to meet one day. Because of my walking disability, due to polio, I don't travel any more. I now live in Bacharach, a nice wine growing, medieval small town at the Rhine. If you happen to be nearby, please let me know. I loved the sound of my large violas and I found it hard to give them up!! In my 'younger Australian years', I played and recorded on a (Sydney) A.E. Smith viola of 17,5 inches, and damaged myself over a longer period of time. I still have a beautiful da Salo copy made by Andrea Frandsen of that size, which sounds great and not at all too dark. To change to a smaller instrument, felt a little bit like giving up a luxurious family car for a little sports car. I wish you all the best for your career!

[@chazboy61able]

What are the details about that beautiful instrument?

[@neonwolf___1116]

Min 16:53 nice

[@DevilViolinist]

5:59 ouch!
Wonderful performance of this piece though, it works so well on viola. I first heard it by Maxim Rysanov (the Proms performance on TH-cam) and I think this is my next favourite viola rendition!

[@emuve5217]

Shut up

[@jaschenski]

How come viola players don't practise 4-8ve scales? Violinists do! Interesting how the same ACTUAL top notes on violin, viola and cello are the same, thus it's not possible on the viola to always play the cello part an 8ve up as it just won't speak, at the end of the adagio mvt for example with the harmonics.

[@pedrov8868]

Easy answer. It's physically harder. Violinists won't get a good sound on those 4th octaves on viola either. It works for certain gestures in new music but for romantic and earlier it's a totally wrong timbre even if you play it optimally.

[@escalupe4849]

Check casimir ney preludes range of the viola is 4,5 octaves, ben hames plays them beautifully on youtube

[@Wheeliethai]

As a violist, this piece has not right being played on viola. Sorry no.

[@Azymites]

As a violist, you're wrong