Schlussgesang – 6 Pieces, op. 61 Viola and Piano

A suite of six pieces, rather than a concerto, Schlussgesang • endsong in English • was sketched in a few weeks in Jerusalem in 1993, interrupted for the composition of Arianna and then taken up again and completed in 1996. Schlussgesang is written for a medium-sized orchestra accompanying the soloist. It was commissioned by the BBC. First performance by Tabea Zimmermann and the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Oliver Knussen at the 1997 Aldeburgh Festival.