STEPHEN KOVACEVICH

 

Beethoven: 33 Variations in C on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 51.24

1 Tema: Vivace  0.45

2 I AlIa marcia maestoso 1.24

3 II Poco allegro  0.40

4 III L'istesso tempo 1.19

5 IV Un poco più vivace 0.52

6 V Allegro vivace 0.53

7 VI Allegro ma non troppo e serioso 1.48

8 VII Un poco più allegro 1.02

9 VIII Poco vivace 1.34

10 IX Allegro pesante e risoluto 1.41

11 X Presto 0.36

12 XI Allegretto 1.03

13 XII Un poco più moto 0.52

14 XIII Vivace 0.58

15 XIV Grave e maestoso 4.13

16 XV Presto scherzando 0.31

17 XVI Allegro 0.57

18 XVII Allegro 1.03

19 XVIII Poco moderato 1.26

20 XIX Presto 0.50

21 XX Andante 2.18

22 XXI Allegro con brio - Meno allegro 1.03

23 XXII Allegro molto  0.38

24 XXIII Allegro assai 0.54

25 XXIV Fughetta: Andante 3.11

26 XXV Allegro 0.43

27 XXVI Piacevole 1.14

28 XXVII Vivace 0.56

29 XXVIII Allegro 0.52

30 XXIX Adagio ma non troppo 1.19

31 XXX Andante, sempre cantabile 1.59

32 XXXI Largo, molto espressivo  4.56

33 XXXII Fuga: Allegro  2.55

34 XXXIII Tempo di menuetto moderato 4.04

 

Bach: Partita No. 4 in D Major BWV 828  26.07

35 I Ouverture 5.54

36 II Allemande 7.36

37 III Courante 2.24

38 IV Aria 1.32

39 V Sarabande 3.55

40 VI Menuet 1.27

41 VII Gigue 2.44

 

Total timing: 77.32

Very special release indeed, the return after more than 40 years to the piece that first brought him worldwide fame – Stephen Kovacevich in Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations

 

In the 90s Stephen recorded the complete Beethoven Sonatas for EMI for the first time, and the set is one of the standard recommendations. Yet something was missing and this recording completes the cycle, which for Kovacevich has become a true life-cycle, having given his sensational Wigmore Hall debut with this piece in 1961 and recording it in a still-classic version for Philips in 1968.

 

His conception has changed  – it has a more live quality (despite being a studio recording) and more dramatic - quite simply it’s picks you up and sweeps you along irresistibly to the very end. Some of the most profound Beethoven playing ever put on disc!

 

As a generous bonus comes his first ever Bach recording, a concert favourite of his, Bach’s Partita no 4 which provides a wonderful palate-cleanser after the emotional rollercoaster of the Diabelli!

  

Onyx ONYX4035