In the last quarter of the eighteenth century, the growing numbers of amateur musicians in Europe fuelled a high demand for piano works of moderate difficulty, especially piano variations. Countless sets of this lucrative and popular genre were produced by many composers, published, and eagerly consumed by the public.
Beethoven was not exempt from this trend. He wrote twenty sets of variations––fourteen based on the themes of other composers and six sets on themes of his own.
This recording presents thirteen sets of variations: eight variations on borrowed themes and five on Beethoven’s original themes. To write a set of variations on a borrowed theme is a gesture of recognition and respect from one composer to another. Beethoven knew the composers from whom he took the themes and was on friendly terms with most of them.
The variations on this recording were composed between 1790 and 1809 and belong to Beethoven’s early/middle period. All the variations except the Thirty-two Variations in C minor, were dedicated to Beethoven’s patrons and friends.

Pianist and conductor Vladimir Feltsman is one of the most versatile and constantly interesting musicians of our time. His vast repertoire encompasses music from the Baroque to 20th-century composers.
A regular guest soloist with leading symphony orchestras in the United States and abroad, he appears in the most prestigious concert series and music festivals all over the world.

A dedicated educator of young musicians, Mr. Feltsman holds the Distinguished Chair of Professor of Piano at the State University of New York, New Paltz, and is a member of the piano faculty at the Mannes College of Music in New York City. He is the founder and Artistic Director of the International Festival-Institute Piano Summer at SUNY New Paltz.