Anuschka chooses the

Grancino viola

Tell us a little about yourself

“My name is Anuschka, and I play the viola. I absolutely love the dark, warm tones of this instrument. The viola is somewhat overshadowed by the virtuoso violin, but that’s mainly due to the repertoire. Personally, I really enjoy showcasing the viola as a virtuoso, solo instrument. That’s a real challenge. I also really enjoy playing chamber music. I like to push the boundaries of the repertoire, but also those of the instrument itself—for example, by arranging pieces for violin or cello for the viola. My sister Maria and I do this a lot for our trio. She plays the oboe, and there’s very little repertoire available for the oboe-viola combination, so for that ensemble we’re always on the lookout for classical pieces to play. These are often pieces originally written for other instruments. We then transcribe them for oboe and viola. Of course, we know our own instruments inside and out, so we’re in the best position to judge which arrangements work for us.’

Do you remember what it was like to choose an instrument from the Musical Instrument Fund for the first time?

“Yes, that was really special. I was seventeen at the time. Until then, I hadn’t played such high-quality instruments. When I won the Princess Christina Competition, the jury thought I should look for a better instrument. They said, ‘Check out the Musical Instrument Fund.’’ That’s how I got in touch with Geertje, who invited me over. Then I was able to try out a number of instruments at home. I asked my teachers for advice, and eventually I settled on a viola by Gand & Bernardel. That instrument really made a world of difference. Suddenly, I could produce so many more timbres and discover so much more in my playing. Because of that, I started to enjoy playing even more.”

The viola, built by Giovanni Grancino in Milan, 1699.

What makes this Grancino the perfect match?

“This instrument has a character somewhat similar to the Storioni and to another viola I tried in London. It has a variety of tonal colors and feels as though it still has room to blossom. I can fully explore this viola, which will help me grow as a musician. It’s an instrument with a lot of character that offers me so many possibilities. And not only is the sound of the viola beautiful, but so is its appearance. On the back, you can see the wood grain in such a beautiful way, and the instrument is also in very good condition.’

Violas often vary in size. How does the Grancino feel to you?

“Yes, it’s really perfect. The Grancino isn’t too big. For example, I also tried a viola that was very beautiful and had a wonderful sound, but it was too heavy for me to play. Then you have to weigh your options: do you want to adapt your entire playing style to the instrument because you’re not used to it, or do you go for a different instrument instead? But I don’t necessarily think it’s important for the body or string length to be a certain size. Ultimately, I mainly look at how the instrument feels and plays. It was a difficult choice, but a very well-considered one.’

Do you have a love for historical instruments, or did you just happen to choose another "old soul" by chance?

“Yes, I do have a strong preference for old instruments, because they already have a soul of their own. With a new instrument, you can still shape the sound exactly the way you want, but an old instrument already has that. You have to learn to work with it, and together you have to keep pushing forward. It’s actually just like a relationship: sometimes you have good days, and sometimes not-so-good days.”

For example, I realize that I still have a lot to discover and learn about the Grancino, but that’s exactly what I enjoy. The biggest challenge is to draw out the instrument’s full range of colors. Previously, the Grancino was played by an orchestral musician, so not so much as a solo instrument. That’s why my challenge is to, so to speak, ‘unlock’ the instrument and get the most out of it.”

How is the viola with the bow that you also have on loan from the fund?

“That bow, made by Kees van Hemert, was of course the one I’d chosen for the Vuillaume. I’d like to do another test with different bows on the Grancino. I was recently on tour in Germany and tried a violinist’s bow on my viola there. I immediately noticed that I could get even more sound out of the instrument with it. Right now, I have the Garlier on loan to try out, but I’m still not sure if this will be the right bow for me. So it’s still a search. Even the tiniest details on the bow can affect the sound of the viola.’

Anuschka submitted the request for a different bow the day before this interview. It is still being processed.

You're taking a gap year right now. Are you planning to continue your studies after this?

“Starting in April, I’ll be going to Berlin to pursue a master’s degree with Prof. Nils Mönkemeyer. He’s a young, virtuoso violist who performs both as a soloist and in chamber music ensembles. In Germany, they call someone like that a kammersolist. I took a trial lesson with him because his playing style is very unique and individual. He really has a style all his own. I find that interesting, because I’m often told that I have that too. Then you have someone who can guide you in that: helping you develop further, but at the same time ensuring that you retain your own style. So that you don’t end up playing exactly like your teacher. The trial lesson with him was a very good experience. I’m really looking forward to it.”

What other big dreams do you have?

“I would love to perform the most beautiful viola concertos with an orchestra, play chamber music at the highest level with the most inspiring musicians, travel a lot, continue to learn from music, and above all, enjoy it to the fullest! And a big dream of mine is to go on tour through South America, especially in Argentina. That’s where my father is from. The Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires is the largest concert venue for classical music there. I would love to perform there so that my whole family can come and listen in that beautiful place!’