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‘Viola players were always taken from among the refuse of violinists,’ wrote the composer Hector Berlioz<\/a>, somewhat contentiously, well over a century ago. And it’s a sentiment often still wheeled out today. Well, it’s time to think again about the unfairly maligned viola, and to help here’s a round-up of the best viola<\/a> players \u2013 both past and present. <\/strong><\/p> Of course, Mozart<\/a><\/strong> is known as one of the most talented composers who ever lived, but it’s less well documented how much the Austrian genius loved the viola. He often played the instrument in performances and readings of his own music, and he remains to this day responsible for some of the most wonderful writing for the instrument.<\/p> These include his wonderful Sinfonia Concertante<\/a><\/strong> for violin, viola and orchestra, and in no less than six string quintets, all of which feature not one viola, but two. His Horn Quintet, too, is scored for two violas and just one violin.<\/p>The best viola players of all time: from Mozart to Hindemith<\/strong><\/h2>
1. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91)<\/strong><\/h3>