大象传媒

The viola is an acoustically imperfect instrument, built too small to achieve its full acoustic potential. For violist Ruth Gibson, this awkwardness coupled with the mournful sound that it often produces is part of the viola's appeal. It may have less solo repertoire than its string siblings, and its alto voice might find it harder to cut through dense textures, but Ruth believes that the viola is undoubtedly the unsung hero of orchestras and chamber ensembles.

Ruth will explore how composers write for the viola, discovering pieces that maximise its unique tonal qualities or play with its range (which happens to be close to that of the human voice). From its role in orchestras and string quartets to contemporary solo repertoire and film and TV scores, Ruth analyses the rich, dark, warm and nasal sounds of the viola and wonders why this butt of musical jokes has such a long history of being undeservedly overlooked.