Description

 

CD-1200(1) RUDOLF SERKIN PLAYS BEETHOVEN: LIVE PERFORMANCES FROM THE 1954 PRADES FESTIVAL. Sonata No. 30 in E Op. 109 [20 June 1954]. 33 Variations On a Waltz by Anton Diabelli Op. 120 [18 June 1954]. Restoration Engineer: Kit Higginson (2007). Notes: Harris Goldsmith. Total time: 76:22 UPC# 017685-120022

BUZZ: Rudolf Serkin (1903-1991) was one of the great Beethoven exponents of the 20th century. Donal Henahan wrote of a performance given by Serkin of the Diabelli in the NY Times:

"Rudolf Serkin's … approach to music and his instrument is devout, all but priestly, and his audience attends to him with the seriousness of a congregation that expects nothing less than high revelation.

Nor does Mr. Serkin disappoint them… The ''Diabelli'' Variations [is] a craggy piece nearly an hour in length that few pianists dare to play in public. Its 33 permutations on Anton Diabelli's little waltz do not fly by under ordinary circumstances. In fact, if there is any music played in purgatory, it is probably a recording of a competent but uninspired pianist hacking away at the ''Diabelli'' Variations. The appeal of this work under Mr. Serkin's hands, however, was constant. He did not try to make the thorniest pages sound sweet, certainly, but his command over the score's design was entire. He played every repeat, of course (almost all the variations have a couple), and since he did not attempt to vary his approach in any way the second time around the casual listener might have grown impatient. Most of the repeats in this piece are not structurally crucial, which could lead one to wonder how the ''Diabelli'' would sound in a stripped-down version.

Such a heresy would never occur to Mr. Serkin."

Sound Clips (MP3):

1. Piano Sonata No- 30 in E major, Op- 109 I- Vivace – Rudolf Serkin

2. Piano Sonata No- 30 in E major, Op- 109 II- Prestissimo – Rudolf Serkin

3. Piano Sonata No- 30 in E major, Op- 109 III- Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo – Rudolf Serkin

4. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Theme Vivace – Rudolf Serkin

5. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 1 Alla Marcia, maestoso – Rudolf Serkin

6. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 2 Poco allegro – Rudolf Serkin

7. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 3 L’istesso tempo – Rudolf Serkin

8. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 4 Un poco piu vivace – Rudolf Serkin

9. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 5 Allegro vivace – Rudolf Serkin

10. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 6 Allegro ma non troppo – Rudolf Serkin

11. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 7 Un poco piu allegro – Rudolf Serkin

12. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 8 Piu vivace – Rudolf Serkin

13. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 9 Allegro pesante e risoluto – Rudolf Serkin

14. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 10 Presto – Rudolf Serkin

15. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 11 Allegretto – Rudolf Serkin

16. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 12 Un poco piu moto – Rudolf Serkin

17. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 13 Vivace – Rudolf Serkin

18. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 14 Grave e maestoso – Rudolf Serkin

19. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 15 Presto scherzando – Rudolf Serkin

20. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 16 Allegro – Rudolf Serkin

21. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 17 – Rudolf Serkin

22. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 18 Poco moderato – Rudolf Serkin

23. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 19 Presto – Rudolf Serkin

24. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 20 Andante – Rudolf Serkin

25. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 21 Allegro con brio – Rudolf Serkin

26. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 22 Allegro molto – Rudolf Serkin

27. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 23 Allegro assai – Rudolf Serkin

28. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 24 Fughetta Andante – Rudolf Serkin

29. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 25 Allegro – Rudolf Serkin

30. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 26 – Rudolf Serkin

31. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 27 Vivace – Rudolf Serkin

32. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 28 Allegro – Rudolf Serkin

33. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 29 Adagio ma non troppo – Rudolf Serkin

34. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 30 Andante, sempre cantabile – Rudolf Serkin

35. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 31 Largo, molto espressivo – Rudolf Serkin

36. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 32 Fuga Allegro – Rudolf Serkin

37. 33 Variations in C major on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op- 120, Diabelli Variations Variation 33 Tempo di menuetto, moderato – Rudolf Serkin