Jennifer Stumm • Viola

If the violin is a pop star, full of sparkle and pyrotechnics, the viola is a jazz singer who speaks to your heart when it’s breaking, who whispers secrets, and tells lies. The viola might be called the middle child of the string family, often overlooked in favour of its more famous relatives the violin and cello. It’s a chameleon, a character actor, an instrument with imperfect acoustics and a spectrum of frequencies closest to the human voice. Composers throughout history have been drawn to its unique ability to convey deep expression, often writing their late (or their last) works for viola.

Weaving together music and spoken word on her 16th century viola, Stumm will perform pieces ranging from Bach all the way to Sting, as well as a new Music Network commission by Irish composer Jonathan Nangle. In this mix of talk and performance, the acclaimed violist tells a musical story of how imperfection can be the very thing that gives us our voice.

“An immaculate player, with unimpeachable accuracy and clarity”  The Strad

“As played by Jennifer Stumm, the instrument truly shines”  The Guardian

“Remarkably refined, yet with a wide expressive range” Gramophone Magazine