András Schiff - Beethoven: Diabelli-Variationen (2013) [HDTracks]

ECM New Series is better known for its documentation of contemporary works, but the music of the past sometimes receives coverage when artists bring a new perspective to it. The Diabelli Variations, Op. 120; the Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111; and the Six Bagatelles, Op. 126, are among the most original and intellectually stimulating works Ludwig van Beethoven composed for the piano, and the sophisticated interpretations of András Schiff are especially worthwhile for their insights into authentic performance practice and reception. Here, Schiff gives the listener options between a relatively modern sounding version of the Diabelli Variations and a period interpretation, without favoring one or the other. On the first CD he plays the Sonata and the Diabelli Variations on a Bechstein piano from 1921, though with minimal pedaling and a restrained execution that allows every inner voice and subtle dynamic to be appreciated. While this piano is not as hard or bright sounding as a modern Steinway, it is familiar to modern ears and most listeners will readily accept it. On the second CD, Schiff plays the Diabelli Variations, along with the Six Bagatelles, on a smaller sounding Franz Brodmann fortepiano, an original instrument from around 1820, Beethoven's time period. While it sometimes sounds tinnier, the fortepiano is in wonderful condition, and by Schiff's own testimony, it "sounds fresher, bolder, and infinitely more subtle." This side-by-side demonstration allows comparisons between the two instruments, and to consider other differences. One need not choose one recording over the other, but Schiff's exceptional performances would certainly inform such a decision, if one had to be made.

Tracklist:

CD1 #01 - Sonate Nr. 32 in C Moll, Op. 111: I. Maestoso - Allegro con brio ed appassionato (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #02 - Sonate Nr. 32 in C Moll, Op. 111: II. Arietta. Adagio molto et cantabile (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #03 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Thema. Vivace (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #04 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. I. Alla marcia maestoso (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #05 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. II. Poco allegro (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #06 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. III. L'Istesso tempo (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #07 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. IV. Un poco più vivace (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #08 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. V. Allegro vivace (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #09 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. VI. Allegro ma non troppo e serioso (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #10 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var.VII. Un poco più allegro (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #11 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. VIII. Poco vivace (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #12 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. IX. Allegro pesante e risoluto (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #13 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. X. Presto (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #14 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XI. Allegretto (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #15 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XII. Un poco più moto (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #16 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XIII. Vivace (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #17 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XIV. Grave e maestoso (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #18 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XV. Presto scherzando (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #19 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XVI. Allegro (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #20 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XVII (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #21 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XVIII. Poco moderato (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #22 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XIX. Presto (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #23 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XX. Andante (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #24 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXI. Allegro con brio (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #25 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXII. Allegro molto (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #26 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXIII. Allegro assai (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #27 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXIV. Fughetta. Andante (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #28 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXV. Allegro (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #29 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXVI (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #30 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXVII. Vivace (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #31 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXVIII. Allegro (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #32 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXIX. Adagio ma non troppo (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #33 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXX. Andante, sempre cantabile (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #34 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXXI. Largo molto, espressivo (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #35 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXXII. Fuga. Allegro - Poco adagio (Bechstein piano)
CD1 #36 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXXIII. Tempo di Menuetto moderato (Bechstein piano)

CD2 #01 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Thema. Vivace (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #02 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. I. Alla marcia maestoso (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #03 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. II. Poco allegro (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #04 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. III. L'Istesso tempo (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #05 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. IV. Un poco più vivace (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #06 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. V. Allegro vivace (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #07 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. VI. Allegro ma non troppo e serioso (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #08 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var.VII. Un poco più allegro (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #09 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. VIII. Poco vivace (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #10 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. IX. Allegro pesante e risoluto (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #11 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. X. Presto (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #12 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XI. Allegretto (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #13 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XII. Un poco più moto (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #14 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XIII. Vivace (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #15 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XIV. Grave e maestoso (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #16 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XV. Presto scherzando (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #17 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XVI. Allegro (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #18 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XVII (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #19 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XVIII. Poco moderato (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #20 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XIX. Presto (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #21 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XX. Andante (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #22 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXI. Allegro con brio (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #23 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXII. Allegro molto (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #24 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXIII. Allegro assai (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #25 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXIV. Fughetta. Andante (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #26 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXV. Allegro (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #27 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXVI (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #28 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXVII. Vivace (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #29 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXVIII. Allegro (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #30 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXIX. Adagio ma non troppo (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #31 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXX. Andante, sempre cantabile (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #32 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXXI. Largo molto, espressivo (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #33 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXXII. Fuga. Allegro - Poco adagio (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #34 - Diabelli-Variationen, Op. 120: Var. XXXIII. Tempo di Menuetto moderato (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #35 - Sechs Bagatellen, Op. 126: I. Andante con moto cantabile e compiacevole (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #36 - Sechs Bagatellen, Op. 126: II. Allegro (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #37 - Sechs Bagatellen, Op. 126: III. Andante cantabile e grazioso (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #38 - Sechs Bagatellen, Op. 126: IV. Presto (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #39 - Sechs Bagatellen, Op. 126: V. Quasi Allegretto (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)
CD2 #40 - Sechs Bagatellen, Op. 126: VI. Presto - Andante amabile e con moto (Franz Brodmann fortepiano)