19 MICHEL PORTAL ∙ MICHEL DALBERTO Since we’ve mentioned one of the ‘sources’ of this music, namely Brahms, let’s talk about his Clarinet Sonata no.2. Actually, the composer offers an alternative of two melody instruments in the score: the clarinet or the viola. Michel Dalberto: I have in fact performed this sonata with a violist. In the score and in his mind, Brahms makes no distinction between the two instruments. All the same, the two versions of the sonata diverge because of the expressive power and colours of the viola. Contrary to what is sometimes thought, the viola can project a considerable volume of sound. Everything changes with the length of the phrases, which have nothing in common with what you can do on the clarinet. I remember playing this sonata with the violist Yuri Bashmet, and it was completely different music that I was hearing.
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