Utah Viola Society presents:
“The Tertis Project” – Roger Chase, viola, with Michiko Otaki, piano
The Utah Viola Society is pleased to present internationally renowned violist Roger Chase in recital with pianist Michiko Otaki on Sunday, November 2, at 7:00 PM in Libby Gardner Hall at the Univeristy of Utah.
Mr. Chase will be presenting “The Tertis Project”, an ongoing endeavor devoted to performing and recording works by important U.K. composers of the last century which were written for the legendary violist Lionel Tertis (1876-1975). Mr. Chase worked with Tertis as a young man, and studied extensively with his protege, Bernard Shore. He now performs on the Monatagnana viola made famous by Tertis in his legendary recordings. This recital is an opportunity to hear one of the world’s great string instruments and a wonderful example of aural tradition come to life.
Among the late romantic–style works offered are the Sonata by Sir Arthur Bliss, Concertpiece by Sir Arnold Bax, the Romance by Benjamin Dale, and Two Melodies by York Bowen.
Mr. Chase has been a member of many major ensembles including the Nash Ensemble (for more than 20 years), the London Sinfonietta, the Esterhazy Baryton Trio, the Quartet of London, Hausmusik of London, and the London Chamber Orchestra. He has been invited to play as principal viola with every major British orchestra and many others in North America and Europe, including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. He has recorded for EMI, CRD, Hyperion, Cala, Virgin and Floating Earth Records, demonstrating his diverse interests by playing with a folk group on an amplified viola, as a soloist on an authentic instrument and as an exponent of the avant-garde. Mr. Chase has taught at the Royal College of Music, the Guildhall School and the Royal Northern College of Music. He has been a professor at Oberlin College, and now teaches at Roosevelt University in Chicago.
Michiko Otaki has been a frequent chamber music partner to Roger Chase. Otaki performed previously at the National Gallery with the Warsaw Wind Quintet and has toured the USA this spring with the Graffe String Quartet from the Czech Republic. She has also toured and recorded with the Brno Chamber Soloists and with many other orchestras and chamber ensembles from Central and Eastern Europe.
“The Tertis Project” is the final presentation of Utah Viola Society’s “Viola Week”, a series of concerts and educational events at the University of Utah and in Logan at Utah State University. Events will include a master class by Mr. Chase, and exhibition of local instrument makers, and performances by the Fry Street Quartet, Utah Symphony Principal Violist Brant Bayless, and students from across the state of Utah.