Muriel Chemin - BEETHOVEN DIABELLI VARIATIONS

1. 01 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Tema Vivace
   
2. 02 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 1 Alla marcia maestoso
   
3. 03 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 2 Poco allegro
   
4. 04 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 3 L’istesso tempo
   
5. 05 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 4 Un poco piu vivace
   
6. 06 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 5 Allegro vivace
   
7. 07 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 6 Allegro ma non troppo e serioso
   
8. 08 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 7 Un poco piu allegro
   
9. 09 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 8 Poco vivace
   
10. 10 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 9 Allegro pesante e risoluto
    
11. 11 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 10 Presto
    
12. 12 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 11 Allegretto
    
13. 13 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 12 Un poco piu moto
    
14. 14 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 13 Vivace
    
15. 15 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 14 Grave e maestoso
    
16. 16 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 15 Presto scherzando
    
17. 17 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 16 Allegro
    
18. 18 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 17
    
19. 19 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 18 Poco moderato
    
20. 20 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 19 Presto
    
21. 21 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 20 Andante
    
22. 22 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 21 Allegro con brio – Meno allegro
    
23. 23 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 22 Allegro molto (alla Notte e giorno faticar di Mozart)
    
24. 24 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 23 Allegro assai
    
25. 25 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 24 Fughetta. Andante
    
26. 26 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 25 Allegro
    
27. 27 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 26
    
28. 28 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 27 Vivace
    
29. 29 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 28 Allegro 
    
30. 30 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 29 Adagio ma non troppo
    
31. 31 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 30 Andante sempre cantabile
    
32. 32 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 31 Largo molto espressivo
    
33. 33 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 32 Fuga. Allegro
    
34. 34 – Beethoven Diabelli Variations – Var. 33 tempo di Menuetto moderato (ma non tirarsi dietro)
    

MURIEL CHEMIN – BEETHOVEN DIABELLI VARIATIONS

Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations represent one of the greatest works for solo piano ever to be written. Throughout this monumental work, Beethoven dazzles us with his ability to make Diabelli’s theme become anything he wants it to be. Diabelli’s waltz has often been dismissed as rather primitive, even by Beethoven himself. The theme is, therefore, a wonderful example of the irrelevance of where a great composer’s musical material comes from, and the corresponding importance of how the composer manipulates and develops that material. Just as composers of the Renaissance could build profound Mass settings from trivial secular tunes, so Beethoven develops a vast musical edifice from an apparently unlikely source. The sheer variety of musical directions which he finds possible in a set of variations is breathtaking. At times he seems to confront, even mock, the rustic nature of Diabelli’s theme, but in the next breath transforms it into something dignified and sublime.

For award-winning pianist Muriel Chemin, these variations are really “transformations” and, alongside Beethoven’s sonatas, have become an integral part of her repertoire. She is considered one of the most convincing and original interpreters of Beethoven and Mozart, described by Hebdo National as: “Simply one of the best interpreters of Beethoven in the world.”

“The stylistic choices of Muriel Chemin… fully grasp the pivotal role that Beethoven occupies between Classicism and Romanticism. Musical intelligence, clarity in the reproduction of the structure and fluidity of the text, and all with an amazing emotional accuracy”. Diapason

“A superb musical personality […]” Classica

“[…] the combination of rigour, richness and analytical awareness are astonishing”. Le Monde de la Musique

“Her clarity, precision, dynamism and artistic authoritativeness are formidable”. Repertoire

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Booklet in English, French and German.
Program notes by Hugh Collins Rice.

Reviews

“… Muriel Chemin shows us that Beethoven’s world is anything but lightweight.”
Le Monde - Pierre Gervasoni / 14 May 2017

“… a very satisfying chain of beautifully realised transformations.”
Musicalifeiten.nl - Jan de Kruijff / June 2017

FIVE DIAPASONS
“… this performance flows with a rare sense of mastery… With frank accentuations, basses full of depth and scintillating highs, she releases the crazy energy that Beethoven has injected into Diabelli’s waltz, without ever succumbing to a demonstration of virtuosity or emphatic effusion.”
Diapason - Jérôme Bastianelli / October 2017

“This concentration of design reminds me of Solchany, Baumgartner, Richter-Haaser, a line of Beethovenians sadly too forgotten today, which engulfed their art in the text. Muriel Chemin is of such a lineage, and rediscovering her today, affirming with eloquence and elegance her devotion to Beethoven, is a joy to behold.”
ARTAMAG / Jean-Chrales Hofflé / 25 April 2017

“…the reverence for the greatness of the work sounds through, she plays technically perfectly, rich in substance and with a differentiated sound…”
PianoNews - Isabel Fedrizzi / May 2017