REGER, Max
Suite for viola in G minor, Op. 131d No. 1
II. Vivace – Andantino – Vivace
Gérard Caussé, guest professor
Hugo Sergio Hidalgo Herrera, student
Antonia Valente, piano accompanist
The student performs the 2nd movement of Reger’s first Suite for solo viola. Caussé congratulates him and mentions that he very much enjoyed his performance because he makes the music sound interesting, adding that he has nothing to teach him in that regard.
Especially in the Andantino, he recommends creating more contrast between the mezzopiano and pianissimo sections, and engaging the vibrato earlier on those notes. He also corrects the ending of a certain phrase and the beginning of the next so that the interpretation is more in line with what the music intends to express here.
The Vivace tempo depends on how the 4th movement, which is Molto vivace, is to be played. In this case, he suggests playing it slightly faster, provided he remains physically comfortable. The student plays it this way, and Caussé then points out that it is better not to over-accentuate certain notes of the theme, but rather to follow the meter of a waltz. The professor also makes some minor corrections regarding clarity of execution and precision in certain difficult leaps, noting that he should avoid playing more piano when a technically challenging passage appears.
Language: English
