A set of variations on the Aria "Venni, Amore" by the pedestrian composer, singer and kapellmeister, Vincenzo Righini. Beethoven performed this set, none too delicately, as his debut as a pianist in Vienna. Biamonti 24 refers to what was thought to be an original edition of the work of the same title published in 1802 (Biamonti 299). Biamonti suggests that the original edition of this work was definitive as of 1801, but then lost. The Beethovenhaus-Bonn reports that a copy of this lost original edition was found in 1984 by the duo of Sieghard Brandenburg and Martin Staehelin and further reports that this edition and the more common 1802 edition are quite similar, making this version (biamonti 24) the only version and the latter version (Biamonti 299) an unnecessary duplication.
Musically we have 24 variations in D major on a quirky nothing of a theme. Beethoven seems to be drawn to two particular aspects of this small theme: the Lebewohl to decpetive cadence opening - such that the entire work seems to be the cadential part of a period - and the clash of G-natural versus G-sharp in the final cadential figure of the theme. Throughout, Beethoven plays with a number of topics and even brings about duet-like moments, both with register and meter. Most of the variations are interesting but don't get enough time to do anything extra special, the final few are particularly nice and feature a surprise move to the Neapolitan. Worth seeking out.
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