Album Program

The Story

Every piece on Wagner’s Nightmare is in some way connected to something or someone Wagner did not like. Some programming choices are obvious; the Mendelssohn Viola Sonata (an underperformed gem) for instance, is emblematic of Wagner’s antisemitism and his particular disgust for Mendelssohn. Nietzsche’s songs, representative of his dramatic and significant falling out with Wagner, are an obvious enough choice - if one is aware of Nietzsche’s musical corpus! A good portion of the album will be given over to music written for the Viola Alta (or Ritter Viola), the mega 19-inch viola designed by Hermann Ritter, which Wagner stipulated should replace the “regular” viola at Bayreuth. Viola Alta music was mostly written by Wagner’s lackeys and admirers, who composed in a sentimental, over-the-top German Romantic style that. It is music that, while not on the level of genius, fills a glaring hole in the viola repertoire and is absolutely delightful.

And of course we will be performing music by Wagner himself - what could possibly displease him more than hearing his beloved masterworks defiled by the smutty tones of an instrument not even fit to be in his orchestra at Bayreuth?

Through this “music that Wagner' wouldn’t like,” we hope to ultimately tell a touching story about the context, character, and gifts of a perennially troubling and admirable artist.