There is a week celebrating the viola at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead, as it hosts the Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions from 19 to 26 January 2025. Named for two great English violists, Lionel Tertis (1876-1975) and Cecil Aronowitz (1916-1976) the competitions bring together talented young violists from across the globe for a week of outstanding performances, masterclasses, and workshops. Alongside the competitions, Tertis (for ages 19-30) and Aronowitz (for ages 18 and under) there is a programme of performances.
Viola player Timothy Ridout gives a solo recital performing music from Bach’s suites for solo cello arranged for viola alongside a piece by Caroline Shaw. Two members of the Aronowitz jury, Asdis Valdimarsdottir and Thomas Riebl perform music by Telemann, Bach and Garth Knox, and Thomas Riebl will be playing a 5-string tenor viola! Members of the Tertis jury, Thomas Selditz, Lilli Maijala, Françoise Gneri (violas) with James Baillieu (piano) will perform music by Schumann, Lindberg, Korngold and Damström. Timothy Ridout and Nobuko Imai are joined by James Baillieu for a recital including music by Bach, Bridge, and Mozkowski. Nobuko Imai and Robin Ireland will be joined by competitors from both competitions for an evening of music for four violas including Ireland’s own arrangements of Bach.
On Friday 24 January there is a concert featuring highlights from both competitions, and then the finales take place on Saturday 25 January with the Royal Northern Sinfonia.
There is also an exhibition and Timothy Ridout will give a session performing on fine instruments and bows made by makers from the exhibition, and Ridout joins violist Nobuko Imai for My viola and I.
Full details from the competition website.
