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Rudolf Serkin plays Beethoven

£10.87

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Label: Music & Arts

Cat No: MACD1200

Barcode: 0017685120022

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Genre: Instrumental

Release Date: 9th July 2007

Works

Beethoven, Ludwig van

Diabelli Variations, op.120
Piano Sonata no.30 in E major, op.109

Artists

Rudolf Serkin (piano)

Works

Beethoven, Ludwig van

Diabelli Variations, op.120
Piano Sonata no.30 in E major, op.109

Artists

Rudolf Serkin (piano)

About

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."

Live performances from the 1954 Prades Festival.

Sonata No. 30 recorded 20/6/1954; Diabelli Variations recorded 18/6/1954.