Mozart´s wildly popular opera, The Magic Flute, inspired Beethoven to write these seven variations for cello and piano 10 years after the opera´s premier.The aria "Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen" is a duet between Pamina and the silly bird-catcher, Papageno.Pamina comforts Papageno, who is bemoaning his lack of a “Papagena”, by singing this simple ode to love.In Beethoven´s opening theme, the piano plays Pamina´s opening lines and the cello subsequently answers in the tenor´s role.In the following variations, Beethoven explores different moods and embellishments of the theme and even adds a bass-baritone variation.Never surrendering to pure virtuosity, these variations are more a musical exploration than instrumental showcase, yet they finish with a conquering finale.Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir
Classical Music | Cello Music
Ludwig van Beethoven
Theme and Seven Variations on "Bei Mannern" from Mozart's The Magic Flute, WoO 46
PlayRecorded on 01/19/2012, uploaded on 05/29/2013
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Mozart´s wildly popular opera, The Magic Flute, inspired Beethoven to write these seven variations for cello and piano 10 years after the opera´s premier. The aria "Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen" is a duet between Pamina and the silly bird-catcher, Papageno. Pamina comforts Papageno, who is bemoaning his lack of a “Papagena”, by singing this simple ode to love. In Beethoven´s opening theme, the piano plays Pamina´s opening lines and the cello subsequently answers in the tenor´s role. In the following variations, Beethoven explores different moods and embellishments of the theme and even adds a bass-baritone variation. Never surrendering to pure virtuosity, these variations are more a musical exploration than instrumental showcase, yet they finish with a conquering finale. Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir
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Sonata No. 32 in c minor, Op. 111
Fantasie in g minor, Op. 77
33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120
String Quartet No. 11 in f minor, Op. 95, Serioso
String Quartet Op. 131
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Performances by same musician(s)
Cello Sonata in C major, Op. 65
Variations on a Theme by Rossini
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