Poor viola! Neglected and ridiculed for centuries this (really very lovely) instrument has been the receiving end of many a joke and jibe. Berlioz, who had a soft spot for the viola, believed it to be a beautiful and unduly neglected instrument. He even called it the Cinderella of the orchestra – and, well, we all know what happened to her…

Who better to help dispel the myths and misconceptions than our Artist in Association - and former member of the Berlin Philharmonic's viola section – Brett Dean. He gave us some insight into the instrument and its own unique fascinating story.