Enigma: Works for Solo Viola

I have attempted to reveal the most significant aspects of this CD through music. However, I must caution the listener that lyrical melodies and heartwarming beauty, often associated with music, are scarce in this collection. Instead, you will encounter tales of war, bewildering journeys through obscure labyrinths, intense cries of despair, bitter tears of sorrow, and perhaps even an ironic grin at times.

The pieces included in this program are remarkably diverse but share a common atmospheric legacy, each composer expressing it through their own unique musical language. They are composed with overwhelming sincerity. Some pieces possess such intricate layers of vitality that deciphering them becomes a lifelong task. The more one delves into each piece, the more details seem to multiply, leaving endless avenues for exploration.

Unlike other stringed instruments, the viola repertoire has not been thoroughly explored, leaving a substantial portion largely "untouched." Since the early 20th century, numerous exceptional violists have emerged, igniting a search for new compositions for the instrument. As we are currently in this exploratory phase, a definitive tradition in the viola repertoire has yet to be established. This grants our generation the luxury of delving into practically fresh music from various centuries.

I am immensely grateful, proud, and honored to present my initial contribution to this search—the first step in a lifelong exploration of the enigma of musical language.

Dana Zemtsov