The viola takes centre stage at Victoria Concert Hall as the 2026 Georgy Kovalev Asia Recital Tour arrives in Singapore, following performances in Taiwan and Japan. Kovalev, one of today’s most compelling violists, makes his Singapore debut in a rare recital that reveals the viola as a voice of depth, colour, and extraordinary expressive power.
With poetic sensitivity and theatrical intensity, he casts light and shadow through the breath of each phrase. A prizewinner of numerous international competitions, Kovalev is also a sought-after chamber musician, appearing alongside some of the world’s most distinguished artists, including Martha Argerich, Gidon Kremer, Mischa Maisky, Yuri Bashmet, Jörg Widmann, and Steven Isserlis. His performances at major festivals around the world have been met with enthusiastic acclaim.
Kovalev’s program bridges tradition and the contemporary, moving through the distinct sound worlds of Arvo Pärt, Franz Schubert, George Enescu, and Dmitri Shostakovich. Together, these works present the viola as a voice of meditation, lyricism, virtuosity, solitude, and profound inner drama.
For this recital, Kovalev joins forces with pianist Akane Sakai, Martha Argerich’s long-standing musical collaborator. In the interplay between keyboard and bow, audiences will experience the breathtaking magnetism of Kovalev’s viola artistry firsthand.
