822252256925

Variations

Sarah Beth Briggs

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Format: CD

Cat No: AV2569

Release Date:  24 March 2023

Label:  Avie

Packaging Type:  Jewel Case

No of Units:  1

Barcode:  822252256925

Genres:  Classical  Instrumental  

  • Description

    Beethoven wrote in his diary that he wanted "to show the British what a treasure they have in God Save the King", a reference to his set of variations on the national anthem, composed in 1803. Sarah Beth Briggs recorded the virtuoso set precisely one month before the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and the recording heralds the coronation of King Charles III in May 2023.

    The lesser-known Variations on an Original Theme in F major (1802) represent Beethoven the revolutionary. Uniquely, each variation was written in a different key which would have jarred the ears of the composer's contemporaries.

    Sarah Beth Briggs' collection of Variations underlines a lineage of the genre through the classical and romantic eras. Opening the programme is 9 Variations on a Minuet by Duport by Mozart, whom Beethoven greatly admired. The work takes a theme by cellist Jean-Pierre Duport, chamber music director of the court of the Prussian King, Friedrich Wilhelm II, from whom the composer hoped to gain favour. Mendelssohn's Variations Serieuses was written as a tribute to Beethoven, and was included in an album of works that raised funds for the now famous bronze statue of Beethoven in Bonn. Mendelssohn's near contemporary Brahms paid tribute to his troubled friend Robert Schumann, using a melody from Bunte Blätter ("Colourful Leaves") in his poignant Variations on a Theme by Schumann.

    "Briggs navigates especially skilfully the early-Romantic storms of Mendelssohn's Variations serieuses, giving them plenty of brilliance, lyricism and energy. Her playing is as attentive and detailed as her programming, convincingly creating a different atmosphere for each composer." - BBC Music Magazine

  • Tracklisting

      Disc 1

      Side 1

      • 1. Mozart: 9 Variations on a Minuet by Jean-Pierre Duport, K.573: Tema
      • 2. Mozart: 9 Variations on a Minuet by Jean-Pierre Duport, K.573: Variation I.
      • 3. Mozart: 9 Variations on a Minuet by Jean-Pierre Duport, K.573: Variation II.
      • 4. Mozart: 9 Variations on a Minuet by Jean-Pierre Duport, K.573: Variation III.
      • 5. Mozart: 9 Variations on a Minuet by Jean-Pierre Duport, K.573: Variation IV.
      • 6. Mozart: 9 Variations on a Minuet by Jean-Pierre Duport, K.573: Variation V.
      • 7. Mozart: 9 Variations on a Minuet by Jean-Pierre Duport, K.573: Variation VI.
      • 8. Mozart: 9 Variations on a Minuet by Jean-Pierre Duport, K.573: Variation VII.
      • 9. Mozart: 9 Variations on a Minuet by Jean-Pierre Duport, K.573: Variation VIII. Adagio
      • 10. Mozart: 9 Variations on a Minuet by Jean-Pierre Duport, K.573: Variation IX. - Allegro - Tempo primo
      • 11. Beethoven: 7 Variations on 'God Save The King', WoO78: Tema
      • 12. Beethoven: 7 Variations on 'God Save The King', WoO78: Variation I.
      • 13. Beethoven: 7 Variations on 'God Save The King', WoO78: Variation II.
      • 14. Beethoven: 7 Variations on 'God Save The King', WoO78: Variation III.
      • 15. Beethoven: 7 Variations on 'God Save The King', WoO78: Variation IV.
      • 16. Beethoven: 7 Variations on 'God Save The King', WoO78: Variation V. Con espressione
      • 17. Beethoven: 7 Variations on 'God Save The King', WoO78: Variation VI. Allegro. Alla marcia
      • 18. Beethoven: 7 Variations on 'God Save The King', WoO78: Variation VII.- [Allegro] - Adagio - Allegro
      • 19. Beethoven: 6 Variations on an Original Theme in F major, Op. 34: Tema. Adagio, Cantabile
      • 20. Beethoven: 6 Variations on an Original Theme in F major, Op. 34: Variation I.
      • 21. Beethoven: 6 Variations on an Original Theme in F major, Op. 34: Variation II. Allegro, ma non troppo
      • 22. Beethoven: 6 Variations on an Original Theme in F major, Op. 34: Variation III. Allegretto
      • 23. Beethoven: 6 Variations on an Original Theme in F major, Op. 34: Variation IV. Tempo di Minuetto
      • 24. Beethoven: 6 Variations on an Original Theme in F major, Op. 34: Variation V. Marcia. Allgretto
      • 25. Beethoven: 6 Variations on an Original Theme in F major, Op. 34: Variation VII. - Allegretto - Adagio molto
      • 26. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Theme: Andante sostenuto
      • 27. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation I.
      • 28. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation II. Un poco più animato
      • 29. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation III. Più animato
      • 30. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation IV.
      • 31. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation V. Agitato
      • 32. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation VI. A tempo
      • 33. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation VII.
      • 34. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation VIII. Allegro vivace
      • 35. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation IX.
      • 36. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation X. Moderato
      • 37. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation XI.
      • 38. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation XII. Tempo di Tema
      • 39. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation XIII.
      • 40. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation XIV. Adagio
      • 41. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation XV. Poco a poco più agitato
      • 42. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation XVI. Allegro vivace
      • 43. Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 MWV U 156: Variation XVII. [Allegro vivace] - Presto
      • 44. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Tema. Ziemlich langsam
      • 45. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Variation I.
      • 46. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Variation II. Poco più moto
      • 47. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Variation III. Tempo di tema
      • 48. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Variation IV. Poco più moto
      • 49. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Variation V. Allegro capriccioso
      • 50. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Variation VI. Allegro
      • 51. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Variation VII. Andante
      • 52. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Variation VIII. Andante (non troppo lento)
      • 53. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Variation IX. Schnell
      • 54. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Variation X. Poco adagio
      • 55. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Variation XI. Un poco più animato
      • 56. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Variation XII. Allegretto, poco scherzando
      • 57. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Variation XIII. Non troppo presto
      • 58. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Variation XIV. Andante
      • 59. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Variation XV. Poco adagio
      • 60. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 9: Variation XVI. [Adagio]