5 Variations Archive

“5 Variations” = HAYDN: Variations in F Minor; BIZET: Variations Chromatiques; NIELSEN: Chaconne; BRAHMS: Variations on an Original Theme; SCHUBERT: Variations on a Theme from “Rosamunde” (Impromptu in B flat, D. 935 No. 3) – Andrew Rangell, p. – Bridge

by Audiophile Audition | Dec 23, 2010 | Classical CD Reviews

“5 Variations” = HAYDN: Variations in F Minor; BIZET: Variations Chromatiques; NIELSEN: Chaconne, Op. 32; BRAHMS: Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 21 No. 1; SCHUBERT: Variations on a Theme from “Rosamunde” (Impromptu in B flat, D. 935 No. 3) – Andrew Rangell, piano – Bridge 9331, 72:08 [Distr. by Albany] *****: Talk about variety! Get ready for five sets of variations that stretch the very idea of variations form and range over 125 years of musical history. Talk about variety! and that despite the kind of high concept which might initially seem like something of a straightjacket. Even the cover of this CD has a retro feel that takes us back to a time when the recording medium was still young and programming had a free-wheeling logic that made its own kind of sense—but just. (Think of the Everest LP from the 50s that brought together the Australian John Anthill and the Argentine Alberto Ginastera; it’s still available, if you have a hankering.) Here, we have five sets of variations that stretch (without ever breaking) the very idea of variations form. They range over 125 years of musical history, from the time when the piano was just emerging as […]