Open Class: Lawrence Power with the Stauffer masterclass students

Follow the third edition of the Stauffer Open Class dedicated to future violists.
Don't miss this incredible opportunity to learn from #LawrencePower: watch the Open Class live here on Wednesday, January 18 at 6 p.m. CET!

[@elisaragli5038]

Fantastico Lawrence Power. I love him so much

[@simon23214]

Great and beautiful playing by the second student.
What is his name?

[@lukefer7579]

Why does the vibrato start after the note always? Is this a baroque interpretation of Franck? I don’t think the piece works on viola.

[@tomboyer5608]

All the rules about vibrato that people were taught 30 years ago are out the window. Today's players use vibrato more sparingly, more as an ornament. And thoughtful players vary their vibrato. So if you see a consistent pattern of a note starting straight and then vibrating (some people call this "blooming" the note) that's not necessarily a good thing. Monotony is the opposite of spontaneity and expressiveness.
I agree with you that playing the Franck sonata on viola is a good practice piece for virtuoso violists but it's not the way it should be performed. It's a violin piece. The young man's playing is very sweet but his phrasing is too clockwork. As he develops as a player he will learn how to phrase more beautifully.