Robert Silverman performs one of Beethoven’s masterworks for piano, theDiabelli Variations, Op.120, recorded by Graemme Brown, with Ray Kimber, JohnAtkinson, Brett Terry.
In a world that sees wunderkinder of the piano come and go, Robert Silverman hasreached a level of musical and technical authority that can be accomplished onlyafter years of deep commitment to the instrument and its vast literature. Manyaspects of Silverman’s playing are frequently noted: a polished technique, anextraordinary range of tonal palette, an uncanny ability to sing his way intothe heart of a phrase, and probing interpretations of the most complex works inthe repertoire.
The distinguished Canadian pianist has performed in concert halls throughoutNorth America, Europe, the Far East, and Australia. Under the batons of suchrenowned conductors as Seiji Ozawa, John Eliot Gardiner, Gerard Schwarz, NeemeJärvi, Sergiu Comissiona, Zdenek Macal, and the late Kiril Kondrashin, he hasperformed with orchestras on three continents, including the Chicago Symphony,the Sydney Symphony, the BBC (London) Symphony, the St. Petersburg PhilharmonicOrchestras, and every major orchestra in Canada.
In 1998 Robert Silverman was named the first winner of the Paul de Hueck andNorman Walford Career Achievement Award for Keyboard Artistry, administered bythe Ontario Arts Council Foundation, in recognition of “his high level ofartistry, his moving interpretations of a wide range of music…and hiscommitment and contribution to music in Canada.”
Musicians:
Robert Silverman, piano
Selections:
Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations
33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli in C Major, Op.120 (1819, 182223)
1. Theme: Vivace
2. Variation 1: Alla marcia maestoso
3. Variation 2: Poco allegro
4. Variation 3: L’istesso tempo
5. Variation 4: Un poco più vivace
6. Variation 5: Allegro vivace
7. Variation 6: Allegro ma non troppo e serioso
8. Variation 7: Un poco più allegro
9. Variation 8: Poco vivace
10. Variation 9: Allegro pesante e risoluto
11. Variation 10: Presto
12. Variation 11: Allegretto
13. Variation 12: Un poco più moto
14. Variation 13: Vivace
15. Variation 14: Grave e maestoso
16. Variation 15: Presto scherzando
17. Variation 16: Allegro
18. Variation 17: [Allegro]
19. Variation 18: Poco moderato
20. Variation 19: Presto
21. Variation 20: Andante
22. Variation 21: Allegro con brio. Meno allegro
23. Variation 22: Allegro molto (alla “Notte e girono faticar” di Mozart)
24. Variation 23: Allegro assai
25. Variation 24: Fughetta. Andante
26. Variation 25: Allegro
27. Variation 26: [Allegro]
28. Variation 27: Vivace
29. Variation 28: Allegro
30. Variation 29: Adagio ma non troppo
31. Variation 30: Andante, sempre cantabile
32. Variation 31: Largo, molto espressivo
33. Variation 32: Fuga. Allegro
34. Variation 33: Tempo di menuetto moderato
35. 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80 (1806)
Total playing time, 68:03
