MELIA WATRAS: I FIORI
for viola solo (2025)

Photo by Melia Watras

World Premiere: Coming soon

Duration: 8:50

Program Notes:
Violist Anthony Devroye reached out to me with a vision for a pairing of three studies of the great 20th-century American violist Lillian Fuchs with newly written works to result in a suite — of sorts. He chose the specific Fuchs etudes to which I would respond.

Before putting pencil to paper, I took the opportunity to refresh and invigorate my mind with Jeanne Mallow’s spectacular recordings of Lillian Fuchs’ compositions.

I fiori exists in two states. One as a viola sonata, the other as part of the pairings with Fuchs as selected by Anthony.

I fiori was written for, and is dedicated to the daring and astounding violist Anthony Devroye in friendship and admiration.

—Melia Watras