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ALBUM OF THE WEEK | BEETHOVEN Diabelli Variations, Bagatelles Op 126 | Daniel-Be
Beethoven Diabelli Variations, Six Bagatelles, Op 126
Daniel-Ben Pienaar, piano
(AV 2260)
Beethoven Diabelli Variations, Six Bagatelles, Op 126 Daniel-Ben Pienaar, piano (AV 2260)
Avie Records

After absorbing and daring accounts of the complete Mozart Sonatas and Bach's Goldberg Variations, Pienaar - who teaches at the Royal Academy and is garnering a growing international reputation as a recitalist - turns to Beethoven's colossal, eccentric transformations of Diabelli's perky little waltz. The work has a reputation for difficulty both from the performer's and the listener's point of view, but the young South African makes light of its technical rigours and springs plenty of interpretative surprises. There's an almost dogged gruffness to the opening maestoso march variation, reflecting the ageing composer's brusque persona, perhaps, and the surly wit that has Beethoven quoting Leporello "labouring night and day for one who's never satisfied", from Mozart's Don Giovanni. Pienaar skates with brilliant insouciance through tantalisingly brief prestos, and through scherzando and vivace variations, while giving due weight and depth to the slowest sections, grave e maestoso (var XIV) and largo molto espressivo, each almost three time longer than the average. The Six Bagatelles, Op 126 - Beethoven's last important solo piano works - are no less personal interpretations, which admirers of this pianist will be eager to hear.

Hugh Canning, The Sunday Times
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