Hans Gál - Music for Viola Vol. 1 (Hanna Pakkala)

Information

Composer: Hans Gál

• (01) Suite Concertante for Viola and Orchestra, Op. 102a
• (05) Divertimento for Violin and Viola, Op. 90, No. 3
• (09) Sonata for Viola and Piano, Op. 101
• (12) Trio for Oboe, Violin and Viola, Op. 94

Hanna Pakkala, viola

Reijo Tunkkari, violin
Takuya Takashima, oboe
Irina Zahharenkova, piano

Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra
Sakari Oramo, conductor

Date: 2019
Label: Toccata Classics
https://toccataclassics.com/product/hans-gal-music-for-viola/

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Review

‘This sweeping lyricism … fundamental to Gál’s style’ is annotator Richard Marcus’s description of the opening melody of the Suite concertante (1949) and could stand for all four works here. I doubt that the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra and Sakari Oramo had encountered much of Gál’s music over the years but they play the four movements of the Suite (given here, for the first time, in its orchestral version) with relish.

The star of the show is their principal viola, Hanna Pakkala. Her formidable, prize-winning technique, rich and full tone and dedication to neglected works make her an ideal exponent. Her intonation is absolutely perfect, too. An intuitive chamber player, her account with Reijo Tunkkari (the Ostrobothnian CO’s concertmaster) of the Divertimento for violin and viola (1969, the last of a series of three duos initiated in 1958) is a marvel of musicality, both players immersed in Gál’s inexhaustible invention; listen especially to the quicksilver evocation of elves, ‘Folletti’, or delicate interlude, ‘Figurina’.

The Viola Sonata (1942) shows Gál in more serious mood, not so much from when it was composed (the darkest period of his life) but in essaying a form perfected by Brahms. The opening Adagio is extraordinarily varied, alternating light and intensity caught with finesse by Pakkala and her sensitive accompanist, Irina Zahharenkova. Better still is the Trio for oboe, violin and viola (1949), the longest work here. Suffice it to say that this is music-making – from composer and players alike – of the highest order. Recommended with all possible enthusiasm.

-- Guy Rickards, Gramophone

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Hans Gál (5 August 1890 – 3 October 1987) was an Austrian-British composer, teacher and author. Gál was born to a Jewish family near Vienna, and studied music history at the University of Vienna with Guido Adler. After serving in World War I, he was appointed to the directorship of the Mainz Conservatory. Immediately after the Anschluss in 1938, Gál fled to London and and eventually resided in Edinburgh, where he would remain for the rest of his life. Gál’s music style is rooted in the Austro-German musical tradition; his output was considerable with over 150 published works in virtually all genres.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_G%C3%A1l

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Hanna Pakkala attended Sibelius Academy, Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" Berlin, and Hochschule für Musik "Franz Liszt" Weimar. She also participated in master classes with Tabea Zimmermann, Kim Kashkashian, Thomas Riebl and Antoine Tamestit. In 2012 she won the 2nd prize at the Tampere National Viola Competition. During and after her studies, Pakkala was a member of the Finnish RSO, Helsinki Philharmonic, RSO Berlin, and the Turku Philharmonic. In January 2016 she became solo violist of the Ostrobothian Chamber Orchestra. Pakkala plays a Patrick Robin viola from 2009.
https://www.nauvonkamarimusiikki.fi/?page_id=535&lang=en

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