LA Phil Principal Violist Teng Li Plays Beethoven's Viola

As part of the BTHVN on Tour traveling exhibition of artifacts from the Beethoven-Haus Bonn, LA Phil Principal Violist Teng Li recently tried out a viola played by Beethoven between 1786 and 1792.
To learn more about the LA Phil's Beethoven concerts and the BTHVN exhibit, visit laphil.com/beet...
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[@dabneyrossjonessoprano506]

I love it! She is in touch with the spirit of the instrument! The idea of it’s cellular structure “waking up” is beautiful!

[@justamusician7846]

Ofc not, changing the strings instead of remaining to use gut is killing the spirit

[@TenorCantusFirmus]

Everyone seems to love to hate the viola, but still Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Rossini, Donizetti, Mendelssohn, Dvořák and even Paganini were fond to play it.

[@branypoo]

Former violist here ✊ Viola FTW, want to pick it up again :)

[@jonhh6918]

Lovely playing Teng Li and wonderful instrument. I also like the fact that you played music that was probably known by this instrument.

[@snakeboytv7830]

Fun fact Beethoven’s Viola was made by Sebastian Dallinger a famous luthier in Vienna. And the luthier I go to Olaf from twosetviolin has a Sebastian Dallinger violin in his shop.

[@clonebin0]

viola gang

[@Συναισθησις]

I heard you played the viola for some coin

[@saidabarlev6374]

Nice to meet such a succesful viola player !!
You mentioned Beethoven might have played these cello suites on this viola.
Are you sure about that?
From what I know Casals discovered the Bach Cello suites when he was 13 at the end of the 19th century in spain

[@topsecret1837]

It’s possible Beethoven might’ve known about the suites.
He was a particularly devoted member of a baroque revival at that period of time, so stumbling upon the Anna Magdalena version was quite possible.
What we do know is JS Bach’s version of the piece, and likely intermediates have been lost. And that a number of editions existed before, including one arranged with piano accompaniment by Schumann in 1826.

[@hamwhacker]

Incredible to think that Beethoven probably played chamber music on this instrument. The way you play this viola so beautifully I imagine his soul inside the instrument.

[@MrYellowfinch]

Lovely tender playing coaching the instrument into presentable shape, beautifuly done.

[@neilcam]

It would be good to know who the maker is of the instrument. A very useful piece of information that has been omitted from the video.

[@doumne]

Violin manufacturer Sebastian Dalinger (1735-1809) from Vienna is said to have built the viola around 1780.

[@neilcam]

@@doumne Thank you. I also found it a moment ago on an article about the video The Strad posted on FB. Thanks again though.

[@irmtrudagnoli3551]

thanks for sharing and leading us into the sound of this instrument with your wonderful joyce of music and in lyour ovely playing

[@duggiefresh8170]

Super short clip. Great playing. Give us some detail on that instrument please. Maker, year, etc.

[@manuelalosilla698]

realmente, esa viola tiene un sonido muy especial

[@Jusecadi74]

Qué lindo que tocas...

[@louciaaguilera5780]

wow... 😮
someone know which size is this viola ?

[@edwardweaver1467]

The actual viola?

[@Chasestringsmusic]

What year is the viola made?

[@kaikoi1438]

I want to work here some day :)

[@IntelInside2020]

The viola came before the violin.

[@lukeanatol5512]

so jealous

[@justamusician7846]

Why do you change the strings? Taking off those gut strings was the most useless thing ever