[8/13/2011] Sunday Classics preview: Do you know what famliar tune these variations are variations of? (continued)

In just a moment we're going to hear
our theme sung -- by Beverly Sills!

HERE'S THE STORMY INTRO OF OUR PIANO-AND-ORCHESTRA
VARIATIONS PIECE -- PLUS THE THEME AND VARIATION 1

The performance is the same one from which we heard our mystery variations. If at any time during the Introduction you just can't stand the suspense, you can click ahead to the second track, which contains the piano's first statement of the theme (followed on the third track by the first variation). By the way, our soloist and conductor have a particular connection to the composer.

András Schiff, piano; Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti, cond. Decca, recorded October 1985


NOW WE HAVE SETS OF VARIATIONS FOR PIANO
SOLO AND FOR VOICE WITH FLUTE AND PIANO

For piano solo (the theme plus one variation)
Walter Gieseking, piano. EMI, recorded in London, 1953

For voice -- the theme sung (by Beverly Sills!)
Beverly Sills, soprano; artists of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: Paula Robison, flute; Charles Wadsworth, piano. ABC Audio Treasury/EMI, recorded March 1972


IN TOMORROW'S SUNDAY CLASSICS POST --

We'll hear all three sets of variations (in case you hadn't guessed).


RETURN TO THE BEGINNING OF THE POST

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