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Conventional music surround more or less converts a recording that's pan-potted between the L&R channel to be pan-potted between L-C and C-R (most seem to emphasize extracting L-R type of ambiance and try to place it somewhere in the rear to give you the impression of reverb). But that's not how our brain hear sounds.
A viola coming from the right side of the stage has almost the same loudness to our left and right ear, but due to it being off axis from center, the sound arrives at our ear at different times. In a multi-mic recording playback, the way a viola is presented as stage right is by having the right loudspeaker play louder than the left.
In principle, yes, but classical music, these days, is rarely pan-potted and has the correct phase and magnitude information. Perhaps an instrument other than a viola would make for a better illustration?

Kal

Kal Rubinson
"Music in the Round"
Senior Contributing Editor, Stereophile