BEETHOVEN

Gerard Willems (piano)

Thirty-Three Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120

Tema: Vivace

Variation I: AlIa Marcia maestoso

Variation II: Poco allegro

Variation III: L'istesso tempo

Variation IV: Un poco piu vivace

Variation V: Allegro vivace

Variation VI: Allegro ma non troppo e serioso

Variation VII: Un poco piu allegro

Variation VIII: Poco vivace

Variation IX: Allegro pesante e risoluto

Variation X: Presto

Variation XI: Allegretto

Variation XII: Un poco piu moto

Variation XIII: Vivace

Variation XIV: Grave e maestoso

Variation XV: Presto scherzando

Variation XVI: Allegro

Variation XVII: Allegro

Variation XVIII: Poco moderato

Variation XIX: Presto

Variation XX: Andante

Variation XXI: Allegro con brio - Meno allegro

Variation XXII: Allegro molto

Variation XXIII: Allegro assai

Variation XXIV: Fughetta: Andante

Variation XXV: Allegro

Variation XXVI: Piacevole

Variation XXVII: Vivace

Variation XXVIII: Allegro

Variation XXIX: Adagio ma non troppo

Variation XXX: Andante, sempre cantabile

Variation XXXI: Largo, molto espressivo

Variation XXXII: Fuga: Allegro

Variation XXXIII: Tempo di Menuetto moderato

Andante in F major 'Andante favori', WoO 57

Bagatelle in A minor 'Fur Elise', WoO 59

Gerard Willems Stuart & Sons piano

To mark the 10th anniversary of the completion of his acclaimed ABC Classics recordings of the 32 piano sonatas of Beethoven, Gerard Willems has recorded the Diabelli Variations, described as "one of the most important pieces Beethoven ever composed ... and one of the most important piano pieces anyone ever composed".

Willems again chose a magnificent Stuart & Sons piano for this historic recording. This Australian designed and manufactured instrument was Wayne Stuart's latest creation, with two extra octaves for enhanced resonance, producing an unrivalled sound that gives the great composer a unique Australian voice.

This recording also brings down the curtain on Australia's biggest classical music recording project: the 32 piano sonatas and 5 piano concertos of Beethoven regarded as the greatest piano music ever written. Willems commenced this project in 1996. He won 2 ARIA awards for the sonatas, and an international music excellence award for the "Emperor" DVD.

"Listening to the sound Willems produces on the Stuart Piano, you instantly understand that Beethoven didn't write this music to be played on an 1820s instrument." - Brendan Ward, Beethoven Recording Project.

ABC Classics ABC4764113