Beethoven: Variations & Rondos

Feltsman, Vladimir

NI 6424

In the last quarter of the eighteenth century, the growing numbers of amateur musicians in Europe fuelled a high demand for piano works of moderate difficulty, especially piano variations. Countless sets of this lucrative and popular genre were produced by many composers, published, and eagerly consumed by the public.

Beethoven was not exempt from this trend. He wrote twenty sets of variations––fourteen based on the themes of other composers and six sets on themes of his own.

This recording presents thirteen sets of variations: eight variations on borrowed themes and five on Beethoven’s original themes. To write a set of variations on a borrowed theme is a gesture of recognition and respect from one composer to another. Beethoven knew the composers from whom he took the themes and was on friendly terms with most of them.

The variations on this recording were composed between 1790 and 1809 and belong to Beethoven’s early/middle period. All the variations except the Thirty-two Variations in C minor, were dedicated to Beethoven’s patrons and friends.

CD x 3

Muzyka klasyczna

Nimbus

11-01-2022

0710357642425