JAVS Summer 2000

FROM THE IVS PRESIDENCY: APRIL IN PARIS

49

spacious facilities, the quality of the events I attended, and the obvious financial backing which made everything possible. One must not overlook the additional attractions in close proximity, namely the renowned musical instrument collection of the Conservatoire (Musee de la musique), housed on three floors in the Cite. Here violists could view examples of early instruments, from rebecs, vielles, pochettes, and viola da braccios, to Sarasate's Stradivarius, and Vuillaume's enormous three stringed, mechanistically played grand double bass (the Godzilla of all string instruments?). In a separate space was an excellent display of violas-tenore and alto-from the 16th to practically the 21st century (a few later mod els taking on a Daliesque appearance). All of

this was mounted specially for our week of "viola mania." The transformation from the old Hailes to the Pare de la Villette and its new institutions marked a change of providing food for the mind and heart over that for the belly. May such mania as experienced at Rencontres and the Vieux competition continue in Paris (and unabated around the world, for that matter). With the first Nordic viola congress in Sweden in August and the 2001 International Viola Congress in New Zealand, the fervor for our instrument grows in diverse places.IF.l

-David Dalton is the president ofthe International Viola Society.

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