Maxim Rysanov: Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Bruch – review

Viola players, starved of original repertory, have traditionally plundered other instruments' concertos (notably Elgar's for cello, which Lionel Tertis adapted). Maxim Rysanov 's version of the Tchaikovsky Rococo variations for cello is one of the most successful steals, not tampering with the orchestral score but simply shifting the solo part, sometimes up an octave to give its virtuosic writing brilliance and allure. Rysanov's viola sound is warm, lyrical but with an edge to it that suits Schubert's "Arpeggione" sonata (here with chamber orchestra), and he makes the most of the one original viola work, Max Bruch's Romance, a lovely melody not very memorably developed.