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RECORDING OF THE MONTH

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Diabelli Variations (1823)
Andreas Staier (fortepiano after Conrad Graf)
rec. September 2010, Teldex Studio, Berlin
complete track list at end of review
HARMONIA MUNDI HMC902091 [67:00]


I have several recordings of Beethoven's Diabelli Variations. It is a work that I have long appreciated but this latest disc from Andreas Staier stands out. First, it's the most infectiously joyous recording I have of the Diabellis. At times, Staier's performance makes me almost want to get up and dance. Don't forget, these are variations on a waltz, though after the first, opening theme, the waltz rhythm itself is pretty much absent. They are full of musical humor. As Alfred Brendel said in an essay Must Classical Music Be Entirely Serious? "…Beethoven here shines as the 'most thoroughly initiated high priest of humour'; he calls the variations 'a satire on their theme'." Staier, in the liner notes, calls this music "ironic" and "sarcastic".
 
Second, this recording is made on a fortepiano, with delicious, rich sound, which brings back the music as Beethoven heard it - or would have, if his hearing were better. Finally, this disc includes not only Beethoven's variations, but also a selection of variations from other composers. When Diabelli wished to publish a set of variations on his theme, he sent the theme to a number of composers, and while many were published, it was Beethoven who went to the extreme, creating 33 variations. This recording includes variations by Mozart, Schubert, Czerny, Hummel and others, along with Staier's own "Introduction", an improvisation on the theme. All of these "remixes" are at the beginning of the disc, so if you only want to hear Beethoven, you can start listening at track 13.
 
As I said above, Staier's performance is lively, aggressive and full of joy. It is a delight to hear him play this work, and especially on this attractive copy of a Graf fortepiano. The recording is excellent; the fortepiano is very prominent and full-bodied, and there is no excess of reverb to drown its subtle sounds.
 
Staier recorded this work from the autograph manuscript (which you can see here). According to the liner-notes, this manuscript had been "inaccessible" until 2009.
 
It seems that there is only one other fortepiano recording of this work by Jörg Demus (reissued by DG in August, 2012). It is odd that there are not more recordings of it, even on modern piano. I assume that Ronald Brautigam will be releasing a recording of this as part of his complete Beethoven survey on fortepiano. While most of the major pianists have recorded it - I especially like Alfred Brendel's recordings - it doesn't have the popularity of, say, Bach's Goldberg Variations. Yet it remains one of the greatest sets of variations for piano, and Staier's recording should help it gain more exposure.
 
If you're not familiar with this work, Staier's fortepiano recording is a great way to discover the Diabelli. If you do know the work, but on modern piano, it's wonderful to hear it on an original instrument. Either way, this is a great recording of a great work, and one that any lover of Beethoven's piano works should get.  

Kirk McElhearn
Kirk McElhearn writes about more than just music on his blog Kirkville.
 

 
Complete track list  
From 50 Veränderungen über einen Walzer von Anton Diabelli
Anton Diabelli - Thema [0:54]
Carl Czerny - Var. IV [1:06]
Johann Nepomuk Hummel - Var. XVI [1:11]
Friedrich Kalkbrenner - Var. XVIII [1:05]
Joseph Kerzkowsky - Var. XX [1:07]
Conradin Kreutzer - Var. XXI [1:03]
Franz Liszt - Var. XXIV [0:59]
Ignaz Moscheles - Var. XXVI [0:59]
Johann Peter Pixis - Var. XXXI [1:30]
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Var. XXVIII [1:17]
Franz Schubert - Var. XXXVIII [1:36]
Andreas Staier "Introduction" [3:20]
Diabelli Variations op.120
Thema. Vivace [0:50]
Var. I. Alla Marcia maestoso [1:49]
Var. II. Poco allegro [0:49]
Var. III. L'istesso tempo [1:14]
Var. IV. Un poco più vivace [1:03]
Var. V. Allegro vivace [0:58]
Var. VI. Allegro ma non troppo e serioso [1:35]
Var. VII. Un poco più allegro [1:10]
Var. VIII. Poco vivace [1:38]
Var. IX. Allegro pesante e risoluto [1:46]
Var. X. Presto [0:36]
Var. XI. Allegretto [0:58]
Var. XII. Un poco più moto [0:44]
Var. XIII. Vivace [1:07]
Var. XIV. Grave e maestoso [3:31]
Var. XV. Presto scherzando [0:33]
Var. XVI. Allegro [0:57]
Var. XVII. [0:59]
Var. XVIII. Poco moderato [1:07]
Var. XIX. Presto [0:56]
Var. XX. Andante [2:33]
Var. XXI. Allegro con brio - Meno allegro [1:06]
Var. XXII. Allegro molto [0:48]
Var. XXIII. Allegro assai [0:56]
Var. XXIV - Fughetta. Andante [2:50]
Var. XXV. Allegro [0:53]
Var. XXVI. [1:03]
Var. XXVII. Vivace [0:56]
Var. XXVIII. Allegro [1:04]
Var. XXIX. Adagio ma non troppo [1:14]
Var. XXX. Andante, sempre cantabile [2:14]
Var. XXXI. Largo molto, espressivo [3:56]
Var. XXXII - Fuga. Allegro - Poco adagio [3:06]
Var. XXXIII. Tempo di Menuetto moderato [4:03]

The Diabelli Variations as they were heard in Beethoven’s time. An infectious recording that bubbles over with joy.