Llŷr Williams - Beethoven: Sonatas, Vol. 7 / Diabelli Variations (2017) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Welsh pianist, Llŷr Williams, is widely admired for his profound musical intelligence, and for the expressive and communicative nature of his interpretations. He has worked with orchestras around the world, including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Sinfonia Cymru, I Pomeriggi Musicali, Meininger Hofkapelle, Berner Kammerorchester, Limburgs Symphony and the Mozarteum Orchestra in Salzburg. He also appears at the BBC Proms in London and has given many remarkable performances at the Edinburgh International Festival, including an astonishing performance of Charles Ives’ 'Concord' Sonata in 2010. He is a regular performer in the Wigmore Hall’s main piano series.
Llŷr Williams is a regular performer at the East Neuk Festival in Scotland, Handelsbeurs Concertzaal Gent, and in the Piano aux Jacobins series in Toulouse. He is also currently artist in residence at Galeri Caernarfon in Wales. 2010 saw the release of a solo CD featuring music by Mussorgsky, Debussy and Liszt, on the Signum Label. In 2012, a second disc was released by Signum, featuring works by Liszt. Both discs were met with critical acclaim. Also available is a live recording from the 2012 East Neuk Festival, containing Beethoven’s Op 109 and Op 110 sonatas. Llŷr Williams is the subject of two films produced for S4C: the first of which won a Welsh BAFTA for Best Music Programme, and the second featured his debut at Carnegie Hall.

A regular collaborator with violinist Alexander Janiczek, they have performed at the Wigmore Hall together, and given a full Beethoven series in Perth. Llŷr Williams also has a great love of lieder and he is one of the official accompanists at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition.

Born in 1976 in Pentrebychan, North Wales, Llŷr Williams read music at The Queen’s College, Oxford and went on to take up a postgraduate scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music where he won every available prize and award. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He was an active member of the Live Music Now! scheme for several years, was selected for the Young Concert Artists in 2002. From 2003-2005 he was a BBC New Generation Artist and in 2004 received a Borletti-Buitoni Trust award.

TRACKLIST

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

CD1
01. Piano Sonata in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 1: I. Molto allegro e con brio
02. Piano Sonata in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 1: II. Adagio molto
03. Piano Sonata in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 1: III. Finale. Prestissimo
04. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 10, No. 2: I. Allegro
05. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 10, No. 2: II. Allegretto
06. Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 10, No. 2: III. Presto
07. Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3: I. Presto
08. Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3: II. Largo e mesto
09. Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3: III. Menuetto. Allegro
10. Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3: IV. Rondo-Allegro

CD2
01. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 1 Thema
02. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 2 Variation I-Alla Marcia maestoso
03. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 3 Variation II-Poco Allegro
04. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 4 Variation III-L'istesso tempo
05. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 5 Variation IV-Un poco più vivace
06. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 6 Variation V-Allegro vivace
07. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 7 Variation VI-Allegro ma non troppo e serioso
08. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 8 Variation VII-Un poco più allegro
09. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 9 Variation VIII-Poco Vivace
10. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 10 Variation IX-Allegro pesante e risoluto
11. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 11 Variation X-Presto
12. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 12 Variation XI-Allegretto
13. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 13 Variation XII-Un poco più moto
14. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 14 Variation XIII-Vivace
15. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 15 Variation XIV-Grave e maestoso
16. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 16 Variation XV-Presto Scherzando
17. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 17 Variation XVI-Allegro
18. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 18 Variation XVII-Allegro
19. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 19 Variation XVIII-Poco Moderato
20. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 20 Variation XIX-Presto
21. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 21 Variation XX-Andante
22. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 22 Variation XXI-Allegro con brio-Meno allegro-Tempo primo
23. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 23 Variation Xxii-Allegro Molto, Alla 'Notte E Giorno Faticar' Di Mozart
24. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 24 Variation Xxiii-Allegro Assai
25. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 25 Variation Xxiv-Fughetta (Andante)
26. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 26 Variation XXV-Allegro
27. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 27 Variation Xxvi-(Piacevole)
28. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 28 Variation Xxvii-Vivace
29. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 29 Variation Xxviii-Allegro
30. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 30 Variation Xxix-Adagio Ma Non Troppo
31. 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 31 Variation XXX-Andante, sempre cantabile
32. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 32 Variation Xxxi-Largo, Molto Espressivo
33. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 33 Variation Xxxii-Fuga-Allegro
34. 33 Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli, Op. 120: No. 34 Variation Xxxiii-Tempo Di Menuetto Moderato

PERSONNEL
Llŷr Williams, piano