Mittenwald master viola by Karl Bitterer, 1977 (maester viola)
Viola by Karl Bitterer, son of Josef Bitterer: Mature artisanry that blends the finest traditions of Mittenwald and Schönbach.
This Mittenwald viola pays eloquent tribute to the experience, self-aware style and musical sensitivity of its maker Karl Bitterer ― all qualities he refined in the course of his career besides his father Josef. Josef Bitterer hailed from the...
Viola by Karl Bitterer, son of Josef Bitterer: Mature artisanry that blends the finest traditions of Mittenwald and Schönbach.
This Mittenwald viola pays eloquent tribute to the experience, self-aware style and musical sensitivity of its maker Karl Bitterer ― all qualities he refined in the course of his career besides his father Josef. Josef Bitterer hailed from the Bohemian town of Schönbach and was displaced to Mittenwald, Germany after the war in 1946. As one of the few Schönbach natives who settled permanently in the Karwendel region, the Bitterer family's work ranks amongst the interesting oeuvres in music history which blend the influences of two major European violin-making regions, thus creating an inimitable artistic signature. Magnificent mature craftsmanship is evident both in the lovingly carved details of the scroll and in the orange-red varnish which casts the grain of the luminous beauty of the top-quality tone woods from the mountain forests of the Karwendel. At a back length of 41.6 cm, the extrely lightweight body of the viola has outstanding resonant properties; its two-piece back is made of powerfully flamed sycamore maple and its top of moderately grained and extremely even spruce, and together they give this extremely playable viola its unusually good and large sound. Its powerful, radiantly clear and bright, violin-like voice opens up multiple musical interpretations of a kind that is rarely found amongst instruments at this price point. Its previous owners clearly appreciated this instrument as well, as can be seen by the mild traces of use. The Mittenwald master viola presented here is thus an instrument that can be recommended to demanding musicians, and after having been carefully reviewed by the experts in our workshop, it is now in excellent condition and ready to play. Featuring Karl Bitterer's dated original label, the viola fully honours its maker.
