Taken from the Dublin In international Piano Spectacular
All seven previous winners in a once-off performance.
PHILIPPE CASSARD (1988),
PAVEL NERSESSIAN (1991),
DAVIDE FRANCESCHETTI (1994),
MAX LEVINSON (1997),
ALEXEI NABIOULIN (2000),
ANTTI SIIRALA (2003)
ROMAIN DESCHARMES (2006)
and featuring
JOHN O'CONOR (Artistic Director)
This piece: WITOLD LUTOSŁAWSKI (1913-1994) Variations on a Theme of Paganini
Performed by :MAX & ANTTI
About this piece:
Liszt, Schumann, Brahms, Rachmaninov, Blacher, Lloyd Webber: the popularity of the A minor study from Paganini's
Twenty Four Caprices, Opus 1, for Solo Violin, as a basis for variations seems endless. The original work itself is quite
torturous enough without providing additional difficulties for piano, cello or orchestra!
Polish composer Witold Lutosławski chose piano duo as his medium for a set of twelve variations which are both
brilliantly original and at times quite hilarious in their inventive treatment of the well-known theme. Although Lutosławski
is better known today for his explorations of aleatoric forms, his early music showed considerable experimentation
within a basically tonal framework, particularly in the use of folk music as exemplified by such composers as Bartók.
Whilst his Symphonic Variations (1938) remain his earliest recognised work today, the Paganini Variations also date
from this period (1941) and were his second published work for piano, following the Two Studies from earlier the same
year. Twelve brilliant and truly original variations on the theme are followed by an extended Coda which brings this
attractive work to a powerful and witty ending.
For more information on this and all things in relation to the Dublin International Piano Competition, please go to www.DIPC.ie
7 фев 2011
