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Diabelli Variations on a historic instrument

October 15, 2015

The composer Richard Wagner, a Beethoven admirer, knew why Beethoven cultivated the genre of theme and variations, writing, "Because he could be much more creative than in other forms…"

https://p.dw.com/p/1GntF
Pressebild Beethovenfest 2009 EINSCHRÄNKUNG
Image: beethovenfest.de/Foto: M. Borggreve

In this concert, Dutch pianist Ronald Brautigam performs on a historic fortepiano. On the program: three great opuses of theme and variations, including the famous Diabelli Variations.

Ludwig van Beethoven:

  • 32 variations on an original theme in C Minor, WoO 80
  • 15 variations with a fugue in E-flat Major, op. 35 (Eroica Variations)
  • 33 variations on a waltz by Anton Diabelli, op. 120

with Ronald Brautigam, fortepiano

Recorded by West German Radio, Cologne (WDR) in the Beethoven House, Bonn am September 12, 2015.