The qualities that can make the viola sound awkward and abrasive can also give the instrument a more human voice than its smaller cousin, the violin. To make the viola small enough to be played under the chin like a violin generally requires its strings to be shorter and at a higher tension than they ideally should be. To make it a viable solo instrument requires an exceptional player. The latest to take a stab at it was German violist Veit Hertenstein, in his Kennedy Center Terrace Theater debut presented by Young Concert Artists on Tuesday night.

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