Viola excerpt · Audition repertoire
Strauss, Don Quixote, Op. 35
The extended solo viola part representing Sancho Panza. Standard at principal viola auditions and a test of character playing.
At a glance
- Instrument
- Viola
- Composer
- Richard Strauss
- Work
- Don Quixote, Op. 35
- Era
- Late-Romantic (c. 1880–1910)
- Composed
- 1897
- Clef
- Alto clef
- Level
- Audition, professional standard
- Audition list
- Yes, standard excerpt
How to practise it
The bow style, the trouble spots, and the stylistic decisions that come up most often on this excerpt.
Bowing
Wide variety of articulation across the solo. Following the printed markings precisely is most of the interpretation.
Where it goes wrong
The writing moves through several registers and clefs; treble clef passages need to be as fluent as the alto ones.
Style
The part is a characterisation, not a lyrical solo, Strauss writes Sancho as garrulous and earthy, and the playing should reflect that.
Tags
Work on the technique underneath
Arco's viola curriculum builds the bow strokes, positions, and clef reading this excerpt assumes, with recorded viola playback throughout.