Roger Chase

Biography

Born in London, Roger Chase, violist studied at the Royal College of Music with Bernard Shore and in Canada with Steven Staryk and worked for a short time with Lionel Tertis, whose famed viola he now plays. Making his debut with the English Chamber Orchestra in 1979, Roger Chase has since played as a soloist or chamber musician throughout the world.In 1987 he appeared as a soloist at a Promenade Concert at The Royal Albert Hall in London before becoming a member of many ensembles, including the Nash Ensemble, the London Sinfonietta, the Esterházy Baryton Trio, the Quartet of London, Hausmusik of London, and the London Chamber Orchestra. Playing as principal violist with many major British orchestras and others in North America and Europe, including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Roger Chase has also recorded for EMI, CRD, Hyperion, Cala, Virgin, Floating Earth, Dutton, Centaur and Naxos Records, and performed at numerous festivals in the US, Japan, Italy, France, Finland and the Netherlands.

“A Paean for the viola…a reading of outstanding commitment and sensitivity.” —The Times, London “The music was brought to life by the outstanding expressive eloquence of Roger Chase’s playing.” —Sunday Times, London “I cannot recall a recent performance of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante that came so close to the truthful simplicity of this heavenly work than that given last night.” —Daily Telegraph, London “Every note of the viola’s display passages could be properly savoured.” —The Guardian, London “Rapid virtuoso music that does not make us feel that it would sound better on the violin…Cool and unslurried…A delight to the ear.” —The Guardian, London “[The recording of Britten’s Lachrymae] features….a radiant viola solo from Roger Chase, quite virtuosic in places, and suitably dark and intense.” —Music Web International “Brilliant…the playing of violist Roger Chase is admirable.” —American Record Guide