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Notes & Reviews:
In March 1783, the readers of Cramer's Magazin der Musik could read about a certain 'Louis van Betthoven', a 'boy ...of most promising talent', whose first published work was being advertised as 'nine variations for the pianoforte, written by him on a march, engraved at Mannheim.' The piece in question was the Dressler Variations, WoO 63, and it marked not only the beginning of an illustrious career, but also the start of Ludwig van Beethoven's lifelong involvement with variation form, culminating almost forty years later in the monumental Diabelli Variations for solo piano, and - in another field - the third movement of his Ninth symphony. In comparison, WoO 63 and the other works included here are certainly less heavy-weight, even if the so-called Venni Amore Variations, WoO 65, has a duration of more than 20 minutes, and in spite of its early date (1790/91) points forward to a much later period in Beethoven's oeuvre. The final set of variations on the disc, the Six variations on Nel cor più non mi sento, WoO 70 were composed in 1795, around the same time as the three piano sonatas Op.2. In this series, Ronald Brautigam has previously recorded early sonatas and sonatinas from the same period as the present works, a disc described by the reviewer on German web site Klassik Heute as 'providing a touching illustration of those times when the great Beethoven was simply young Ludwig' through playing which is 'simultaneously committed to the utmost purity of style and imbued with an immense musical exuberance'. As on the previous instilment in the series, Brautigam has chosen to perform these early variations on a fortepiano after a Walter & Sohn instrument from c.1805.
MusicWeb International, August 2012
This instrument has a light tone and touch but is by no means limited in terms of dynamic range, and Ronald Brautigam performs even the least inspiring of these works with a conviction and musicality which makes you believe in their worth. In its own right this is more than a mere set of curiosities, and especially the Venni Amore variations are very impressive. As part of the series this release is indispensable.
Recording information: Österåker Church, Sweden (08/2011).
Reviews
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Beethoven, Ludwig van : Variations (9) on a march by Dressler, for piano in C minor, WoO 63 - Performer: Ronald Brautigam (Fortepiano)
- Running Time: 6 min. 21 sec.
- Period Time: Classical
- Form: March
- Written: 1782
Beethoven, Ludwig van : Variations (6) on a Swiss song for piano in F major, WoO 64 - Performer: Ronald Brautigam (Fortepiano)
- Running Time: 2 min. 29 sec.
- Period Time: Classical
- Written: circa 1793
Beethoven, Ludwig van : Variations (24) for Piano on Righini's "Venni amore", WoO 65 - Performer: Ronald Brautigam (Fortepiano)
- Running Time: 20 min. 46 sec.
- Period Time: Classical
- Written: 1790-1791
Beethoven, Ludwig van : Variations (13) for Piano in A major on a theme of von Dittersdorf, WoO 66 - Performer: Ronald Brautigam (Fortepiano)
- Running Time: 12 min. 11 sec.
- Period Time: Classical
- Written: 1792
Beethoven, Ludwig van : Variations (12) on Haibel's "Menuett à la Viganò," for piano in C major, WoO 68 - Performer: Ronald Brautigam (Fortepiano)
- Running Time: 12 min. 46 sec.
- Period Time: Classical
- Written: 1795
Beethoven, Ludwig van : Variations (9) for Piano on an aria from "La molinara", WoO 69 - Performer: Ronald Brautigam (Fortepiano)
- Running Time: 5 min. 14 sec.
- Period Time: Classical
- Written: 1795
Beethoven, Ludwig van : Variations (6) on "Nel Cor Piú" from Paisiello's La molinara, for piano in G major, WoO 70 - Performer: Ronald Brautigam (Fortepiano)
- Running Time: 5 min. 49 sec.
- Period Time: Classical
- Written: 1795
