Paul HINDEMITH : Viola Sonata, Op. 11 No. 5: I. Lebhaft, aber nicht geeilt – II. Mäßig schnell, mit viel Wärme vortragen – III. Scherzo – IV. In Form und Zeitmaß einer Passacaglia – Petar CHRISTOSKOV : Rhapsody for Solo Violin, No. 3 Op. 21 “Rural” (Arr. By Dimitar Penkov) – Alexander RAICHEV : Aria for Solo Viola (Dedicated to Dimitar Penkov) – Krzysztof PENDERECKI : Cadenza for Solo Viola – Max REGER : Suite No. 2 in D Major, Op. 131d: I. Con moto – II. Andante – III. Allegretto – IV. Vivace.

Dimitar Penkov, Viola Solo.

Booklet CD-1577.pdf

Dimitar Penkov was born 1953 in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria and studied at the National Academy of Music in his hometown. In 1974 he was the youngest participant and won the 1. Prize and a Gold Medal at the International Music Competition in Sofia. Dimiter Penkov reached international acclaim when he was laureate at the International Music Competition in Geneva in 1977. Dimitar Penkov then became a member of the National String Quartet of the Bulgarian Radio, with which he won prizes in the competitions in Colmar and Evian.

After 1979 Dimitar Penkov continued his studies with Yfrah Neaman in London, who described him as a „brilliant violist, perfect musician and sensitive chamber musician“. In the following years he performed as a soloist and chamber musician all over the world.

In 1985 he was commissioned as leader to the viola section of the Philharmonia Orchestra of the Broadcasting Commission in North Germany. Dimitar Penkov continued to expand his career and regularly perform on stage as a soloist, chamber musician and conductor. Numerous recordings testify his commitment to contemporary music and a rare repertoire.

In November 1985 he was bestowed with the honour of premiering the Viola Concerto by Krzysztof Penderecki at the Festival of Contemporary Music in Metz to the audience in France. Olivier Messiaen described him as a phenomenal violist. He was engaged for various live recordings with Radio Paris, Sofia, Zurich and Moscow and his Vita graces recordings for Balkanton, Melodia, Gallo, GEGA, Fox Records, CPO and Romeo Records NY.

In the course of his comprehensive career as an artist, Dimitar Penkov has collaborated with many well-known conductors: including Aldo Ceccato, Pierre Bartolomée, Michael Tabachnik, Vasil Stefanov, Lutz Herbig, Gilbert Varga, Konstantin Iliev, Anthony Bramall, Vasily Kasandjiev, Plamen Djourov, Nikos Athineos, Otmar Maga and others.

So far released by Gallo:

Arthur Honegger: Sonata for Viola and Piano;
Johannes Brahms: Two Sonatas op. 120 for viola and piano
(with Wolfgang Manz, piano); Gallo CD-833