Wosner,Shai Beethoven: Diabelli Variations CD

In 1819 the publisher and composer Anton Diabelli invited 50 Austrian composers to write one variation a short waltz he had composed. He specified that it take up just one sheet (which he supplied) and this already contained his waltz. Composers such as Czerny, Moscheles, Hummel, Kalkbrenner, Liszt (just 10 years old), Schubert and Beethoven were among those invited. All except one provided their contribution. That one was Beethoven, who, electrified by Diabelli's Waltz produced a massive work comprising 33 variations which was completed after the composer had completed the Missa Solemnis, and the last three piano sonatas. He delivered it to Diabelli in 1823, making it his final masterpiece. This huge work is one of the peaks of the repertoire for solo piano, it still baffles the listener, it still has the capacity to reveal more than we thought we knew about it. It makes extreme demands upon the performer and the listener, and in a great performance never ceases to surprise and shock the listener.

1. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Tema. Vivace 2. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 1, Alla marcia maestoso 3. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 2, Poco allegro 4. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 3, L'istesso tempo 5. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 4, Un poco pi? vivace 6. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 5, Allegro vivace 7. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 6, Allegro ma non troppo e serioso 8. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 7, Un poco pi? allegro 9. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 8, Poco vivace 10. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 9, Allegro pesante e risoluto 11. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 10, Presto 12. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 11, Allegretto 13. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 12, Un poco pi? moto 14. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 13, Vivace 15. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 14, Grave e maestoso 16. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 15, Presto scherzando 17. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 16, Allegro 18. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 17, Allegro 19. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 18, Poco moderato 20. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 19, Presto 21. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 20, Andante 22. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 21, Allegro con brio - Meno allegro 23. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 22, Allegro molto alla "Notte e giorno faticar" di Mozart 24. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 23, Allegro assai 25. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 24, Andante 26. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 25, Allegro 27. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 26, Piacevole 28. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 27, Vivace 29. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 28, Allegro 30. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 29, Adagio ma non troppo 31. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 30, Andante, sempre cantabile 32. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 31, Largo, molto espressivo 33. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 32, Fuga 34. Diabelli Variations, Op. 120: Var. 33, Tempo di menuetto moderato