As a violist, York Bowen found the sound quality of the viola superior to that of the violin. He therefore wrote a large number of works for this instrument. Bowen’s friend and colleague, the then famous violist Lionel Tertis, had a particular influence on him and ultimately inspired him to compose a viola concerto.

Violist Diyang Mei has been steadily furthering his international career ever since his brilliant success at the 2018 coveted ARD International Music Competition, where he won the first prize in the viola category, the Audience Prize and several special prizes.

He is accompanied on this present recording by the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie under the baton of yet another famous violist and composer, Brett Dean.