Brett Dean - Hindemith: Viola Concertos (1999)

Brett Dean (born 1961 in Brisbane, Australia) is beginning to be a much talked about name in the music world. Long established as a fine violist (he was a violist with the Berlin Philharmonic for fifteen years) both as an ensemble member and soloist, Dean is spending more time composing these days than playing. His recent appearance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic joined the two ventures as soloist/composer with his own Viola Concerto, a work of stunning beauty that hopefully will find its way onto a CD soon.

Meanwhile this recording of music by Paul Hindemith is one of the more satisfying collections of works for any instrument but for the viola in particular. Dean is joined by the Brisbane Queensland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Werner Andreas Albert in four of Hindemith's most beautiful compositions: 'Kammermusik No.5, for viola & orchestra', 'Konzertmusik for viola & large chamber orchestra', 'Der Schwanendreher, concerto for viola & small orchestra', and the extraordinarily moving 'Trauermusik for viola and string orchestra. Dean's liquid technique serves him well in both the treacherous passages of these works as well as the languid portions, making the viola sound more like a small cello.

For a collection of works too infrequently heard this is a recording that will please listeners whose spectrum of appreciation for many music periods is large. Brett Dean is a fine musician, in every sense of the term. Highly Recommended.