VC Artist Timothy Ridout’s New Album, “A Lionel Tertis Celebration”

Released on Harmonia Mundi, Timothy performs with pianists Frank Dupree and James Baillieu on the album

A former BBC New Generation Artist and Borletti-Buitoni Trust fellow, VC Artist Timothy Ridout is a graduate of London’s Royal Academy of Music and the Kronberg Academy, where he studied with Martin Outram and Nobuko Imai.

Paying tribute to Lionel Tertis and his legacy, Timothy’s latest album, “A Lionel Tertis Celebration,” features music by Tertis’s friends, teachers, and students, alongside his own original works and transcriptions.

A viola virtuoso in the 20th century, Tertis was an advocate for expanding the viola repertoire and contributed many original compositions. Among the works he arranged for the viola included the Elgar Cello Concerto.  

The album’s first disc with pianist Frank Dupree comprises York Bowen’s Viola Sonata No.1, Op.18; Tertis’s Sunset — Coucher du Soleil; Frank Bridge’s Pensiero and Allegro appassionato; Brahms’ Minnelied; Schumann’s Romance; Fauré’s Élégie; William Wolstenholme’s Allegretto; and Fritz Kreisler’s Liebesleid and Praeludium & Allegro.

The second disc with pianist James Baillieu includes William Henry Reed’s Rhapsody; Eric Coates’ First Meeting (Souvenir); Vaughan Williams’ Six Studies in English Folk Song; and Cecil Forsyth’s Chanson.

More works on disc two comprise John Ireland The Holy Boy; Mendelssohn’s Song Without Words; Tertis’ Hier au soir; Wolstenholme’s The Question, Op.13 No.1; Bowen’s Obbligato to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata; and Rebecca Clarke’s Viola Sonata. 

“Lionel Tertis was undoubtably one of the most important violists of all time, and I would argue that he distinctly shaped the possibilities for a viola player in our world today,” Timothy writes. “He commissioned multitudes of works for the viola, made countless arrangements, and through his own performances and rigorous teaching he hugely improved the level of viola playing across the board.

“These two discs include many works which are deeply meaningful to me; all of which have a direct connection to Lionel Tertis,” he added. “I hope that these recordings will shine a light on some of these absolutely gorgeous and unduly forgotten gems of the viola repertoire.”

Supported by the Lionel Tertis Foundation, this album was produced by Andrew Keener, with the sound engineers Dave Rowell and Phil Rowlands.

Timothy will be performing works from the album on February 1, 2024, at Lincoln Center, and on February 3, 2024, at London’s Wigmore Hall.