Associate Principal Viola Felix Tanner

When did you join the RSNO?
I joined the RSNO in March 2022.

Where are you from?
I am from Helensburgh.

Where did you study?
I studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

What do you enjoy most about being in the RSNO?
I enjoy the variety of repertoire we play and being musically inspired by others around me.

Tell us your favourite RSNO story/memory so far.
During a rehearsal with Jörg Widmann there was a power outage and we sadly had to abandon the rehearsal. It was worth it though to see the smiles on everybody’s faces as we got to go home early.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not playing with the Orchestra?
I enjoy cooking and was persuaded to purchase a Kamado Joe BBQ smoker by our resident chef Kennedy in the cello section. It definitely makes cooking at Christmas more fun!

If you could have dinner with anyone (alive or dead) who would it be, and why?
I would love to have dinner with Victoria Coren Mitchell. She is a professional poker player and the quiz show host of Only Connect and think she would be a really fun dinner companion.

You’re stranded on a desert island. You’re allowed 3 CDs and 1 book. What would they be, and why?
1. The complete Haydn string quartet cycle by the Aeolian quartet, timeless recordings in which you can hear the Scottish violist Watson Forbes.
2. A CD with as many Queen songs as possible, which I would play at full volume.
3. Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock as it evokes happy memories.

 My current book choice would be The Goldfinch by Donna Tart.