Day 250: Piano Variations I, Piano Sonata Op. 49 No. 2

BeethovenCD55This is a fascinating, magical CD from start to finish.

It begins with a really strange track (15 Variations in E Flat Op. 35 “Eroica”) with a lot of pounding on the piano and a dissonant-sounding theme.

In the middle is “God Save the King” (7 Variations in D Wo078) and at the end is a sprightly, nimble-fingered composition called 6 Variations in D Op. 76 “Ruins of Athens.”

Here’s the complete track list:

15 Variations in E Flat Op. 35 “Eroica”

Piano Sonata No. 20 in G Op. 49 No. 2

5 Variations in D Wo079 on “Rule Britannia”

7 Variations in D Wo078 on “God Save the King”

12 Variations in A Wo071

6 Variations in G Op. 34 on an original theme

6 Variations in D Op. 76

The recordings were made between 1961 and 1964, but they sound fresh as yesterday.