Emanuel Ax - Variations '2013

Tracks list

Tracklist
01. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Introduzione col
basso del tema. Allegretto vivace - Tema
02. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Variation 1
03. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Variation 2
04. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Variation 3
05. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Variation 4
06. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Variation 5
07. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Variation 6
08. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Variation 7
09. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Variation 8
10. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Variation 9
11. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Variation 10
12. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Variation 11
13. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Variation 12
14. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Variation 13
15. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Variation 14
16. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Variation 15
17. Variations and Fugue for Piano in E-Flat Major, Op. 35: Finale. Alla fuga.
Allegro con brio
18. Variations in F Minor, Hob. XVII:6
19. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Thema. Andante
20. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude 1
21. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude 2
22. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude 3
23. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude 4
24. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude 5
25. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Variation 4
26. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Variation 5
27. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude 6
28. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude 7
29. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude 8
30. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Variation 2
31. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude 9
32. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude 10
33. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude 11
34. Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13: Etude 12
35. Piano Variations


This is not the first all-variation recital by a leading pianist, but its a
fresh outing by the venerable Emanuel Ax that uses the variation form to explore
the innovative currents percolating through some less commonly played works.
Beethovens Variations and Fugue for piano in E flat major, Op. 35, are known as
the Eroica Variations because they are based on the same two themes that would
later appear in the Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 (Eroica). Its very
easy to construct a splashy reading pointing to Beethovens early career as a
virtuoso pianist, and thats whats often been done. Ax, on the other hand, takes
the reasonable step of treating the work as a prelude to the Eroica symphony,
damping down the virtuosity a good deal (of course, hes enough of a virtuoso to
get away with that) and bringing the variations together into larger groups. His
reading seems almost meditative at first, although it eventually builds in
power, and its quite absorbing. Likewise for the Variations for piano in F
minor, Hob. 17/6, of Haydn, perhaps the single piece in Haydns entire catalog
that points forward most clearly to the Romantic era. The work, with its
harmonic excursions and unusual double variation structure, offers plenty to
chew on if the pianist slows down enough to get inside it, and Axs reading
brings out its adventurous quality. The Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13, of Schumann
are given a confidently, coolly controlled performance, even in the midst of
extreme technical challenges. The upshot is to make these three works sound
quite close to one another, no mean feat, and one that brings fresh insights to
each.

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