JITKA HOSPROVÁ: HINDEMITH IS MY ALLY

Jitka Hosprová is the first-ever high-profile female Czech solo violist. She launched her career with an instrument made by Gaspar Strnad in 1792; nowadays she plays a viola built by the Czech master Petr Zdražil. Jitka has given concerts all over the world, performed with leading international orchestras and since 2001 has recorded 10 highly acclaimed albums. On 25 July 2014, Supraphon will be releasing her eleventh CD (SU 4147–2). It is dedicated to Paul Hindemith – a composer who made an essential contribution to the emancipation of the viola in the previous century. As delivered by the technically brilliant Jitka Hosprová, Hindemith’s music is emotionally rich, profound and colourful, as is the viola itself.

What does Paul Hindemith’s music mean to you personally?

Paul Hindemith is my great ally in asserting the viola as a solo instrument. He himself was a superlative violist and his compositions render the instrument’s qu­alities and fortes. I am delighted that Hindemith chose to dedicate his celebrated Sonata for Solo Viola, Op. 25, to the Czech violist Ladislav Černý, thus Foto: Emanuel della Pia inspiring a number of Czech composers, including Pavel Bořkovec, Ladislav Vycpálek and Jan Klusák, to write pieces for solo viola too.

Did anything surprise you?

I was surprised by how utterly splendid is the music concealed in the quantity of notes for solo viola.

Can you reveal us your upcoming concerts and whether you will include the pieces featured on the new album in your programmes?

Definitely. Hindemith is currently part of my repertoire. In June I will play the Trauermusik with an orchestra in Santiago de Chile and I’ll also be giving a few concerts in the Czech Republic.