Itka Hosprova Monologue -Czech 20th Century Works for Solo Viola

Monologue - Czech 20th-century works for solo viola

Pavel Borkovec: Sonata, Op. 12
Jan Klusak: Monologue "Ubi vult"
Jan Klusak: Partita
Ladislav Vycpalek: Suite, Op. 29
Jaroslav Smolka: Mlha sklicenosti (The Mist of Depression)

Jitka Hosprova, viola

Recorded: 2009, 2010

In the past, the viola was often considered the poor relation to the violin or cello, for which composers wrote solo pieces, notably Bach with his solo partitas. Only the 20th century, to a certain extent, redeemed the debt to this splendid instrument. This CD featuring Jitka Hosprova presents the best compositions written for solo viola in the 20th century in the homeland of Dvorak, Smetana and Janacek. We would be hard-pressed indeed to find another violist whose repertoire is so dominated by 20th- and 21st-century works. Jitka Hosprova has included on this collection two compositionally significant Czech works (the dialogical Suite by Ladislav Vycpalek, who studied composition with Vitezslav Novak, and the Sonata by Josef Suk's pupil Pavel Borkovec) alongside pieces by two representatives of the currently older generation of composers (Jan Klusak, Jaroslav Smolka). Jitka Hosprova's viola reflects all the colours of human emotions; it is by turns sad, mysterious and vehemently passionate, velvety and raw. Owing to this buoyancy, the CD far surpasses the dimensions of a mere music anthology; the compositions sound like personal statements - and it is easy to fall in love with the exquisite timbre of Jitka Hosprova's viola. ( Supraphon )