András Schiff plays Bach & Beethoven
2013-10-13
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness, San Francisco, CA
7:00 PM, Sunday, October 13, 2013

[7:00 PM lights down, announcements]

J.S. Bach (1685-1750): Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (1741);

1. Aria (sarabande)
2. Variatio 1. a 1 Clav. (?polonaise) »
3. Variatio 2. a 1 Clav.
4. Variatio 3. Canone all’Unisono. a 1 Clav.
5. Variatio 4. a 1 Clav. (?passepied)
6. Variatio 5. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav. (arabesque)
7. Variatio 6. Canone alla Seconda. a 1 Clav. »
8. Variatio 7. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav. al tempo di Giga
9. Variatio 8. a 2 Clav. (arabesque) »
10. Variatio 9. Canone alla Terza. a 1 Clav. »
11. Variatio 10. Fughetta. a 1 Clav.
12. Variatio 11. a 2 Clav. (arabesque)
13. Variatio 12. a 1 Clav. Canone alla Quarta in moto contrario
14. Variatio 13. a 2 Clav. (sarabande)
15. Variatio 14. a 2 Clav. (arabesque)
16. Variatio 15. Canone alla Quinta. a 1 Clav.: Andante (in G minor)
17. Variatio 16. Ouverture. a 1 Clav.
18. Variatio 17. a 2 Clav. (arabesque)
19. Variatio 18. Canone alla Sesta. a 1 Clav.
20. Variatio 19. a 1 Clav. »
21. Variatio 20. a 2 Clav. (arabesque)
22. Variatio 21. Canone alla Settima (in G minor) »
23. Variatio 22. a 1 Clav. alla breve
24. Variatio 23. a 2 Clav. (arabesque)
25. Variatio 24. Canone all'Ottava. a 1 Clav.
26. Variatio 25. a 2 Clav.: Adagio (in G minor)
27. Variatio 26. a 2 Clav. (arabesque)
28. Variatio 27. Canone alla Nona. a 2 Clav.
29. Variatio 28. a 2 Clav. »
30. Variatio 29. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav. (arabesque)
31. Variatio 30. a 1 Clav. Quodlibet
32. Aria da Capo e fine
    [8:25 PM set ends]

[8:52 PM lights down]
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 33 Variations on a waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120 (1823)

1. Theme: Vivace, 3/4
2. Variation I: Alla Marcia maestoso, C (4/4)
3. Variation II: Poco allegro, 3/4
4. Variation III: L'istesso tempo, 3/4
5. Variation IV: Un poco piu vivace, 3/4
6. Variation V: Allegro vivace, 3/4
7. Variation VI: Allegro ma non troppo e serioso, 3/4
8. Variation VII: Un poco piu allegro, 3/4
9. Variation VIII: Poco vivace, 3/4
10. Variation IX: Allegro pesante e resoluto, C (4/4)
11. Variation X: Presto, 3/4
12. Variation XI: Allegretto, 3/4
13. Variation XII: Un poco piu moto, 3/4
14. Variation XIII: Vivace, 3/4
15. Variation XIV: Grave e maestoso, C (4/4)
16. Variation XV: Presto scherzando, 2/4
17. Variation XVI: Allegro, C (4/4)
18. Variation XVII: C (4/4)
19. Variation XVIII: Poco moderato, 3/4
20. Variation XIX: Presto, 3/4
21. Variation XX: Andante, 6/4
22. Variation XXI: Allegro con Brio, C (4/4)
23. Variation XXII: Allegro molto alla “Notte e giorno faticar” di Mozart, C (4/4)
24. Variation XXIII: Allegro assai, C (4/4)
25. Variation XXIV: Fughetta Andante, 3/4
26. Variation XXV: Allegro, 3/8
27. Variation XXVI: 3/8
28. Variation XXVII: Vivace, 3/8
29. Variation XXVIII: Allegro, 2/4
30. Variation XXIX: Adagio ma non troppo, 3/4
31. Variation XXX: Andante, sempre cantabile, C (4/4)
32. Variation XXXI: Largo, molto espressivo, 9/8
33. Variation XXXII: Fuga Allegro, C (4/4)
34. Variation XXXIII: Tempo di Minuetto moderato (ma non tirarsi dietro), 3/4
    [set ends 9:44 PM]
     
    Encore
35. [9:49 PM] Beethoven: Piano Sonata in C minor, Op. 111, second movement, six variations on a theme marked Arietta
    [show ends 10:04 PM]

• András Schiff: piano.

Wow, what a marathon show. I'd noticed when I put my initial notes together that it was going to be a long one, but somehow that fact slipped my mind until I arrived at Davies tonight and began to review the program notes.

Being a Bach fan, the first set tonight was my clear favorite. Even with a somewhat whispy melody to begin from, Bach manages to spin out an astonishly diverse array of contrasts and embellishments. With Beethoven, by comparison, I sensed that he got a bit bogged down in trying to demonstrate dynamic contrasts – tinkle tinkle trinkle pound pound pound – to the extent that i became fatigued before the piece ended. Thankfully, it did come to a graceful close before I could fall from my chair or seize up from catatonia!

Stephen Smoliar posted a rather nice review at the Examiner website

Back to the calendar!