Beethoven: Diabelli Variations, Op. 120 John O'Conor

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Diabelli Variations, Op. 120:
• 1 Theme: Vivace 00:53
• 2 Variation 1: Alla Marcia, maestoso 01:50
• 3 Variation 2: Poco allegro 00:49
• 4 Variation 3: L'istesso tempo 01:18
• 5 Variation 4: Un poco più vivace 01:01
• 6 Variation 5: Allegro vivace 00:58
• 7 Variation 6: Allegro ma non troppo e serioso 01:54
• 8 Variation 7: Un poco più allegro 01:11
• 9 Variation 8: Poco vivace 01:29
• 10 Variation 9: Allegro pesante e risoluto 01:43
• 11 Variation 10: Presto 00:38
• 12 Variation 11: Allegretto 01:07
• 13 Variation 12: Un poco più mosso 01:01
• 14 Variation 13: Vivace 01:02
• 15 Variation 14: Grave e maestoso 04:23
• 16 Variation 15: Presto scherzando 00:36
• 17 Variation 16: Allegro 01:03
• 18 Variation 17: Allegro 01:02
• 19 Variation 18: Poco moderato 01:37
• 20 Variation 19: Presto 01:01
• 21 Variation 20: Andante 01:42
• 22 Variation 21: Allegro con brio 01:19
• 23 Variation 22: Allegro molto 00:53
• 24 Variation 23: Allegro assai 01:00
• 25 Variation 24: Fughetta - Andante 02:33
• 26 Variation 25: Allegro 00:49
• 27 Variation 26: (Piacevole) 01:18
• 28 Variation 27: Vivace 01:07
• 29 Variation 28: Allegro 01:13
• 30 Variation 29: Adagio ma non troppo 01:24
• 31 Variation 30: Andante, sempre cantabile 01:25
• 32 Variation 31: Largo, molto espressivo 04:35
• 33 Variation 32: Fuga - Allegro 03:00
• 34 Variation 33: Tempo di Menuetto, moderato 04:05
• Total Runtime 52:59

Info for Beethoven: Diabelli Variations, Op. 120

John O’Conor, the masterful Irish pianist who carries on the legacy of Wilhelm Kempff, having recorded the complete Beethoven Sonatas and Concertos in celebrated recordings over the years, now turns his attention to the masterwork known as the Diabelli Variations, op.120.

„Ludwig van Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, Op. 120 was his greatest masterpiece for the piano, and its 33 variations on a simple waltz transcended the extraordinary keyboard works that preceded it, including his other sets of variations, bagatelles, and the 32 piano sonatas. Composed between 1819 and 1823, contemporaneously with the Missa Solemnis, it was published as the first volume of Anton Diabelli's Vaterländischer Künstlerverein. Diabelli had asked the leading composers of Europe to compose a single variation on his original theme, and he collected examples from Carl Czerny, Franz Schubert, Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Ignaz Moscheles, a young Franz Liszt, Franz Xaver Mozart, and Archduke Rudolf of Austria, among many others, but Beethoven's monumental contribution exceeded them all. The Diabelli Variations are regarded as a summation of Beethoven's methods of composition, and it requires an experienced pianist to communicate its myriad connections to all that went before, perhaps most significantly to the late piano sonatas, which it most closely resembles in tone, breadth, inventiveness, spiritual depth, and emotional impact. John O'Conor's 2016 release for Steinway & Sons offers a spontaneous and fluid performance that ranges in expression from humorous and mercurial in the early variations, to profound and awe-inspiring from the midpoint on, and he displays a fine balance between vigorous virtuosity and sublime restraint. Steinway & Sons provide clean and crisp sound, so all the details and nuances in O'Conor's sensitive playing are easily heard. Highly recommended, especially for fans of this amazing piece.“ (Blair Sanderson, AMG)

John O’Conor, piano

No biography found.

Booklet for Beethoven: Diabelli Variations, Op. 120