More than 300 musicians gathered at the Porto Conservatory of
Music in Portugal on 19 May to break the world record for the
largest ever viola ensemble. The number of players has yet to be
confirmed by Guinness World Records, but unofficial figures put the
total at 353 – 32 more than the previous record of 321.
The event was organised by the Portuguese Viola Association and
took place as part of its biennial conference. The ensemble first
assembled in a shopping centre to give a ‘flashmob’ performance to
shoppers, before the group moved to the Conservatory for a concert
of four works for viola ensemble.
International players were invited to join the ensemble, including
Kenneth Martinson, president of the International Viola Society.
Also present were two writers for The Strad, Carlos María
Solare and Luis Magín, whose article on viola playing in the
Spanish court can be read in the May issue.
The previous record was set in 2011 at the association’s last
conference in Porto. In that event, the ensemble assembled at the
Sala Suggia concert hall of the city’s Casa de Musica.
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