About his playing

"Causa does with the viola what few have even come close to achieving. His sound is incredibly powerful, with nary a hint that he has any difficulty rising above the piano. The lower register of his instrument are what might be expected of a viola: deep, rich and resonate. It is in the upper registers, and the evenness between high and low, that Causa really distinguishes himself from other viola soloist"


Awarded both the “P. Schidlof Prize” and the “J. Barbirolli Prize” for “the most beautiful sound” at the prestigious Lionel Tertis International Viola competition in England in 2000, Italian-born violist Ettore Causa is praised for his exceptional artistry, passionate intelligence and complete musicianship.
He has made solo and recital appearances in major venues around the world, such as Carnegie Hall, Zurich Tonhalle, Madrid National Auditorium, Salle Cortot, Tokyo Symphony Hall, Teatro Colon, etc., and has performed at numerous international festivals, such as the Menuhin, Salzburg, Tivoli, Prussia Cove, Savonlinna, Launadire and Norfolk Festivals.

Also a devoted chamber musician, Mr. Causa has collaborated extensively with internationally renowned musicians such as the Tokyo, Artis, Brentano, Cremona and Elias String Quartets, Pascal Rogé, Boris Berman, Peter Frankl, Thomas Ades, Natalie Clein, Ana Chumachenco, Ani Kavafian, Alberto and Antonio Lysy, Liviu Prunaru, Thomas Demenga, Ulf Wallin, William Bennett and others.

His highly praised recordings include several Claves CDs, among those his transcription of romantic pieces, which was awarded a prestigious “5 Diapasons” by the French magazine.

Recently he was one of the honor guest at the 43rd International Viola Congress where he performed with enormous success his own arrangement of the Schumann cello concerto

Mr. Causa performs on a viola made for him by Frederic Chaudiere in 2003