John Ogdon, Emil Gilels - Beethoven: Piano Variations (2004)

Tracklist

CD1
01. 7 Variations on "God Save the King" in C Major, WoO 78: Thema -
02. 7 Variations on "God Save the King" in C Major, WoO 78: Variation I -
03. 7 Variations on "God Save the King" in C Major, WoO 78: Variation II
04. 7 Variations on "God Save the King" in C Major, WoO 78: Variation III
05. 7 Variations on "God Save the King" in C Major, WoO 78: Variation IV
06. 7 Variations on "God Save the King" in C Major, WoO 78: Variation V. Con espressione
07. 7 Variations on "God Save the King" in C Major, WoO 78: Variation VI. Allegro, alla marcia -
08. 7 Variations on "God Save the King" in C Major, WoO 78: Variation VII. Adagio-Allegro
09. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Thema. Allegretto
10. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation I
11. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation II
12. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation III
13. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation IV -
14. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation V
15. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation VI
16. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation VII
17. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation VIII
18. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation IX
19. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation X
20. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation XI
21. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation XII
22. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation XIII
23. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation XIV. Allegretto
24. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation XV
25. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation XVI
26. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation XVII
27. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation XVIII
28. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation XIX
29. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation XX. Scherzando
30. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation XXI
31. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation XXII
32. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation XXIII. Adagio sostenuto -
33. 24 Variations on Righini's "Venni amore" in D Major, WoO 65: Variation XXIV. Allegro
34. 13 Variations on Dittersdorf's "Es war einmal ein alter Mann" in A Major, WoO 66: Thema. Allegretto
35. 13 Variations on Dittersdorf's "Es war einmal ein alter Mann" in A Major, WoO 66: Variation I
36. 13 Variations on Dittersdorf's "Es war einmal ein alter Mann" in A Major, WoO 66: Variation II
37. 13 Variations on Dittersdorf's "Es war einmal ein alter Mann" in A Major, WoO 66: Variation III. Commodetto
38. 13 Variations on Dittersdorf's "Es war einmal ein alter Mann" in A Major, WoO 66: Variation IV -
39. 13 Variations on Dittersdorf's "Es war einmal ein alter Mann" in A Major, WoO 66: Variation V. Risoluto-Arioso. Andante con moto
40. 13 Variations on Dittersdorf's "Es war einmal ein alter Mann" in A Major, WoO 66: Variation VI. Espressivo
41. 13 Variations on Dittersdorf's "Es war einmal ein alter Mann" in A Major, WoO 66: Variation VII. Allegro con molto
42. 13 Variations on Dittersdorf's "Es war einmal ein alter Mann" in A Major, WoO 66: Variation VIII. Tempo I -
43. 13 Variations on Dittersdorf's "Es war einmal ein alter Mann" in A Major, WoO 66: Variation IX. Con spirito-Andantino
44. 13 Variations on Dittersdorf's "Es war einmal ein alter Mann" in A Major, WoO 66: Variation X
45. 13 Variations on Dittersdorf's "Es war einmal ein alter Mann" in A Major, WoO 66: Variation XI. Allegro
46. 13 Variations on Dittersdorf's "Es war einmal ein alter Mann" in A Major, WoO 66: Variation XII. Allegro non tanto, con grazia-Capriccio. Andante
47. 13 Variations on Dittersdorf's "Es war einmal ein alter Mann" in A Major, WoO 66: Variation XIII. Marcia vivace
48. 12 Variations on Haibel's "Menuett à la Viganò" in C Major, WoO 68: Thema. Allegretto
49. 12 Variations on Haibel's "Menuett à la Viganò" in C Major, WoO 68: Variation I -
50. 12 Variations on Haibel's "Menuett à la Viganò" in C Major, WoO 68: Variation II -
51. 12 Variations on Haibel's "Menuett à la Viganò" in C Major, WoO 68: Variation III
52. 12 Variations on Haibel's "Menuett à la Viganò" in C Major, WoO 68: Variation IV -
53. 12 Variations on Haibel's "Menuett à la Viganò" in C Major, WoO 68: Variation V
54. 12 Variations on Haibel's "Menuett à la Viganò" in C Major, WoO 68: Variation VI
55. 12 Variations on Haibel's "Menuett à la Viganò" in C Major, WoO 68: Variation VII
56. 12 Variations on Haibel's "Menuett à la Viganò" in C Major, WoO 68: Variation VIII
57. 12 Variations on Haibel's "Menuett à la Viganò" in C Major, WoO 68: Variation IX
58. 12 Variations on Haibel's "Menuett à la Viganò" in C Major, WoO 68: Variation X
59. 12 Variations on Haibel's "Menuett à la Viganò" in C Major, WoO 68: Variation XI
60. 12 Variations on Haibel's "Menuett à la Viganò" in C Major, WoO 68: Variation XII. Allegro-Adagio
61. 6 Variations on Paisiello's "Nel Cor Più" in G Major, WoO 70: Thema. Andantino -
62. 6 Variations on Paisiello's "Nel Cor Più" in G Major, WoO 70: Variation I -
63. 6 Variations on Paisiello's "Nel Cor Più" in G Major, WoO 70: Variation II
64. 6 Variations on Paisiello's "Nel Cor Più" in G Major, WoO 70: Variation III
65. 6 Variations on Paisiello's "Nel Cor Più" in G Major, WoO 70: Variation IV
66. 6 Variations on Paisiello's "Nel Cor Più" in G Major, WoO 70: Variation V
67. 6 Variations on Paisiello's "Nel Cor Più" in G Major, WoO 70: Variation VI

CD2
01. 5 Variations on Arne's "Rule Britannia" in D Major, WoO 79: Thema. Tempo moderato
02. 5 Variations on Arne's "Rule Britannia" in D Major, WoO 79: Variation I -
03. 5 Variations on Arne's "Rule Britannia" in D Major, WoO 79: Variation II -
04. 5 Variations on Arne's "Rule Britannia" in D Major, WoO 79: Variation III -
05. 5 Variations on Arne's "Rule Britannia" in D Major, WoO 79: Variation IV -
06. 5 Variations on Arne's "Rule Britannia" in D Major, WoO 79: Variation V
07. 8 Variations on Grétry's "Une fièvre brûlante" in C Major, WoO 72: Thema. Allegretto
08. 8 Variations on Grétry's "Une fièvre brûlante" in C Major, WoO 72: Variation I -
09. 8 Variations on Grétry's "Une fièvre brûlante" in C Major, WoO 72: Variation II -
10. 8 Variations on Grétry's "Une fièvre brûlante" in C Major, WoO 72: Variation III
11. 8 Variations on Grétry's "Une fièvre brûlante" in C Major, WoO 72: Variation IV
12. 8 Variations on Grétry's "Une fièvre brûlante" in C Major, WoO 72: Variation V
13. 8 Variations on Grétry's "Une fièvre brûlante" in C Major, WoO 72: Variation VI
14. 8 Variations on Grétry's "Une fièvre brûlante" in C Major, WoO 72: Variation VII
15. 8 Variations on Grétry's "Une fièvre brûlante" in C Major, WoO 72: Variation VIII. Allegro-Coda
16. 10 Variations on Salieri's "La Stessa, le Stessissima" in B-Flat Major, WoO 73: Thema. Andante con moto
17. 10 Variations on Salieri's "La Stessa, le Stessissima" in B-Flat Major, WoO 73: Variation I -
18. 10 Variations on Salieri's "La Stessa, le Stessissima" in B-Flat Major, WoO 73: Variation II
19. 10 Variations on Salieri's "La Stessa, le Stessissima" in B-Flat Major, WoO 73: Variation III
20. 10 Variations on Salieri's "La Stessa, le Stessissima" in B-Flat Major, WoO 73: Variation IV
21. 10 Variations on Salieri's "La Stessa, le Stessissima" in B-Flat Major, WoO 73: Variation V
22. 10 Variations on Salieri's "La Stessa, le Stessissima" in B-Flat Major, WoO 73: Variation VI
23. 10 Variations on Salieri's "La Stessa, le Stessissima" in B-Flat Major, WoO 73: Variation VII
24. 10 Variations on Salieri's "La Stessa, le Stessissima" in B-Flat Major, WoO 73: Variation VIII
25. 10 Variations on Salieri's "La Stessa, le Stessissima" in B-Flat Major, WoO 73: Variation IX
26. 10 Variations on Salieri's "La Stessa, le Stessissima" in B-Flat Major, WoO 73: Variation X. Allegretto alla Austriaca-Tempo I
27. 7 Variations on Winter's "Kind willst du ruhig schlafen" in F Major, WoO 75: Thema. Allegretto
28. 7 Variations on Winter's "Kind willst du ruhig schlafen" in F Major, WoO 75: Variation I
29. 7 Variations on Winter's "Kind willst du ruhig schlafen" in F Major, WoO 75: Variation II
30. 7 Variations on Winter's "Kind willst du ruhig schlafen" in F Major, WoO 75: Variation III
31. 7 Variations on Winter's "Kind willst du ruhig schlafen" in F Major, WoO 75: Variation IV
32. 7 Variations on Winter's "Kind willst du ruhig schlafen" in F Major, WoO 75: Variation V
33. 7 Variations on Winter's "Kind willst du ruhig schlafen" in F Major, WoO 75: Variation VI
34. 7 Variations on Winter's "Kind willst du ruhig schlafen" in F Major, WoO 75: Variation VII-Coda
35. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in G Major, WoO 77: Thema. Andante, quasi allegretto
36. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in G Major, WoO 77: Variation I -
37. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in G Major, WoO 77: Variation II
38. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in G Major, WoO 77: Variation III
39. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in G Major, WoO 77: Variation IV
40. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in G Major, WoO 77: Variation V -
41. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in G Major, WoO 77: Variation VI
42. 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80: Thema. Allegretto
43. 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80: Variations I-III
44. 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80: Variations IV-V
45. 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80: Variation VI
46. 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80: Variations VII-VIII
47. 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80: Variations IX-XI
48. 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80: Variation XII
49. 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80: Variations XIII-XIV
50. 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80: Variations XV-XVIII
51. 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80: Variations XIX-XXII
52. 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80: Variations XXIII-XXV
53. 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80: Variations XXVI-XXVII
54. 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80: Variation XXVIII
55. 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80: Variations XXIX-XXX
56. 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80: Variations XXXI-XXXII
57. 12 Variations on a Russian Dance from Wranitzky's "Das Waldmädchen" in A Major, WoO 71: Thema. Allegretto -
58. 12 Variations on a Russian Dance from Wranitzky's "Das Waldmädchen" in A Major, WoO 71: Variation I
59. 12 Variations on a Russian Dance from Wranitzky's "Das Waldmädchen" in A Major, WoO 71: Variation II
60. 12 Variations on a Russian Dance from Wranitzky's "Das Waldmädchen" in A Major, WoO 71: Variation III
61. 12 Variations on a Russian Dance from Wranitzky's "Das Waldmädchen" in A Major, WoO 71: Variation IV -
62. 12 Variations on a Russian Dance from Wranitzky's "Das Waldmädchen" in A Major, WoO 71: Variation V
63. 12 Variations on a Russian Dance from Wranitzky's "Das Waldmädchen" in A Major, WoO 71: Variation VI
64. 12 Variations on a Russian Dance from Wranitzky's "Das Waldmädchen" in A Major, WoO 71: Variation VII
65. 12 Variations on a Russian Dance from Wranitzky's "Das Waldmädchen" in A Major, WoO 71: Variation VIII -
66. 12 Variations on a Russian Dance from Wranitzky's "Das Waldmädchen" in A Major, WoO 71: Variation IX -
67. 12 Variations on a Russian Dance from Wranitzky's "Das Waldmädchen" in A Major, WoO 71: Variation X
68. 12 Variations on a Russian Dance from Wranitzky's "Das Waldmädchen" in A Major, WoO 71: Variation XI -
69. 12 Variations on a Russian Dance from Wranitzky's "Das Waldmädchen" in A Major, WoO 71: Variation XII
70. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 76: Thema. Allegro risoluto
71. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 76: Variation I -
72. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 76: Variation II
73. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 76: Variation III
74. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 76: Variation IV
75. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 76: Variation V
76. 6 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 76: Variation VI

Among the 13 sets of variations for solo piano by Beethoven on this two discs set, only three of them are even reasonably well known and the rest might as well come from the dark side of the moon as far as even the most dedicated of Beethoven lovers are concerned. Pretty much everybody has heard of Beethoven's Variations on "God Save the King" and "Rule Britannia" and folks who frequent piano recitals will sooner or later have bumped into his rambunctious and unbuttoned Variations on an original theme in C minor. But the rest of the variations here remain at the outer reaches of the pianist's repertoire: too recherché for all but the specialist pianists and too virtuosic for all but the best pianists. Enter John Ogdon. Although three of the variations were recorded in 1968 by the magisterial Emil Gilels, the other ten were recorded in November 1969 by John Ogdon, the brilliant English virtuoso who championed Busoni's Promethean Piano Concerto and the Lucifer Suite of Nielsen. Ogdon's performances of Beethoven's Variations are just as incandescent, just as virtuosic, just as compelling as his performances of Busoni and Nielsen and, let's admit it, the music is a lot better. Even though most of Beethoven's variations were designed to charm by their wit and delight by their virtuosity, they are still the early works by one of the supreme masters of variation form and his earliest works in the genre are at the same level of audacious brilliance as his earliest piano sonatas. And you know that can't be bad. EMI's late-'60s stereo sound is warm and close and perhaps a bit too reverberant in the climaxes.

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