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Piano Experiments

Cédric Tiberghien performs five sets of variations by Beethoven and works by three 20th-century American experimentalists: Cage, Crumb and Feldman.

Beethoven’s piano variations are a continuous thread which run through the whole of his composing life. The five sets of variations in Cédric Tiberghien’s recital, from the earliest period in Beethoven’s career, brilliantly show what Beethoven could already do with a simple theme.

Tiberghien has chosen to intersperse Beethoven’s variations with music by 20th century American experimentalists. It’s a fitting tribute: Beethoven was, after all, one of the most forward-thinking figures in all music, constantly trying out what could be achieved by pushing the limits of instruments, especially his own, the piano.

And like Beethoven, these 20th-century composers are striving to discover new ways of writing for the piano: from the chance elements of John Cage’s 7 Haiku, to the haunting beauty of George Crumb’s Processional, which lets the pianist choose from alternative passages in the score.

Recorded last month at Wigmore Hall and presented by Georgia Mann.

Beethoven: 5 Variations on 'Rule Britannia' in D, WoO 79
Feldman: Last Pieces
Beethoven: 6 Variations on an Original Theme in G, WoO 77
Cage: 7 Haiku
Beethoven: 9 Variations on a March by Dressler in C minor, WoO 63

INTERVAL

Crumb: Processional
Beethoven: 12 Variations on 'Menuet à la Viganò' from Haibel’s Le nozze disturbate in C, WoO 68
Cage: In a Landscape
Beethoven: 7 Variations on 'God save the King' in C, WoO 78

Cédric Tiberghien (piano)

2 hours, 28 minutes

Last on

Tue 3 Mar 2020 19:30

Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    5 Variations on 'Rule Britannia' in D WoO. 79

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
  • Morton Feldman

    Last Pieces

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    6 Variations on an Original Theme in G WoO.77

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
  • John Cage

    7 Haiku

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    9 Variations on a March by Dressler in C minor WoO. 63

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
  • Charles Ives

    Variations on "America"

    Orchestrator: William Schuman. Orchestra: Boston Pops Orchestra. Conductor: Arthur Fiedler.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • George Crumb

    Processional

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    12 Variations on 'Menuet à la Viganò' from Haibel's Le nozze disturbate in C WoO

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
  • John Cage

    In a Landscape

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    7 Variations on 'God save the King' in C WoO. 78

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Aria from Goldberg Variations, BWV 988

    Performer: Cédric Tiberghien.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet in C sharp minor, Op 131

    Ensemble: Juilliard String Quartet.
    • CBS.
  • Isaac Albéniz

    Iberia Book 4 (Eritana)

    Performer: Alicia de Larrocha.
    • Albeniz: Iberia; Navarra; Suite Espanola - Larrocha.
    • Decca.
    • 3.

Broadcast

  • Tue 3 Mar 2020 19:30

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