Alessandro Commellato - Beethoven: The Complete Early Variations (2017)

Tracklist
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01. 32 Variations in C Minor WoO 80
02. 5 Variations on "Rule Britannia" in D Major, WoO 79
03. 7 Variations on "God Save the King" in D Major, WoO 78
04. 6 Variations in G Major, WoO 77
05. 8 Variations on "Tändeln und Scherzen" in F Major, WoO 76
06. 7 Variations on "Kind, willst du ruhig schlafen" in F Major, WoO 75
07. 6 Variations for Piano four hands on "Ich denke dein"in D Major, WoO 74
08. 10 Variation on "La stessa la stessissima" in B-Flat Major, WoO 73
09. 8 Variations on "Un fievre brûlante" in C Major, WoO 72
10. 12 Variations on a Russian Dance from Wranitsky's Ballet Das Waldmädchin A Major, WoO 71
11. 6 Variations on "nel cor più non mi sento" in G Major, WoO 70
12. 9 Variations on "quant'è più bello" in A Major, WoO 69
13. 12 Variations on "Menuet à la Viganò" in C Major, WoO 68
14. 8 Variations on a theme by Count Waldstein in C Major, WoO 67
15. 13 Variations on "es war einmal ein alter Mann" in A Major, WoO 66
16. 24 Variations on Righini's Air "Venni amore" in D Major WoO 65
17. 6 Easy Variations on a Swiss air in F Major, WoO 64
18. 9 Variations on a March by Dressler in C Minor, WoO 63
Under the title "Early Variations" Alessandro Commellato has brought together all those works for solo and 4 hands piano that form part of one of the most distinctive musical genres of the 18th century: the theme with variations. These works were not included in the main catalogue of Beethoven's compositions, which is a mystery, given the high quality of the music and the incredible inventiveness and richness of the piano writing, which is on a par with that of the piano sonatas: wit, joy, drama, tragedy, all is included in these masterpieces, which are still undervalued by modern pianists.
Included are the WoO 63‐80, played on copies (made by the famous Italian instrument builder Guido Bizzi) of Böhm, Stein and Walter.
Alessandro Commellato is a great virtuoso, sensitive and stylish musician, who already to great critical acclaim recorded for Brilliant Classics piano concertos by Hummel and chamber music by Ries and Hummel.
Excellent and extensive liner notes written by renowned musicologist Oreste Bossini.