Beethoven:
6 Variations Op. 34

Brahms:
Variations Op. 18b

Chaminade:
Theme Variée Op. 89

Chopin:
Variations Brilliantes Op. 12

Dutilleux:
Choral et Variations (from Piano Sonata) Op.1

Schumann:
Etudes in Variation Form on a Theme by Beethoven WoO31

Schumann:
Variations on a theme by Robert Schumann Op.20

Joanna Kacperek’s debut album is a fascinating programme of variations, and in some cases variations with interesting links. Brahms’s early Op18b was dedicated to Clara Schumann. Clara’s Op.20 was dedicated to her future husband, Robert. Robert’s early set of Variations WoO31 takes the Allegretto from Beethoven’s Symphony No.7 and goes through an extraordinary journey with this famous tune. Beethoven himself is represented by his Op.34, which, along with the ‘Eroica’ variations Op.35 were the first of his many sets of variations that he considered special enough to be assigned opus numbers. The Op.34 set were, in the composer’s words ‘have the worth of a work as it is quite a new invention to write variations such a manner as this, as without a doubt none have appeared like this’ . Beethoven breaking new ground! This challenging and virtuosic album marks an auspicious debut of an impressive new talent.