Aris Alexander Blettenberg, the pianist on this recording, won first prize at the 2021 Ludwig van Beethoven International Piano Competition Vienna.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The album's selection of works emphasizes the alternation between light and darkness, and the process of moving 'through asperities to the stars' (per aspera ad astra), which are recurring themes in Beethoven's music.
Album & Artwork
The album's program is framed by two Beethoven transcriptions: the Allegretto from Symphony No. 7 arranged by Franz Liszt, and a piano version of the song "An die Hoffnung" created for this CD.
Instruments
The piano used for this recording is a Bösendorfer PC 280.
Compositional Technique
Robert Schumann's "Studies in Form of Free Variations on a Theme by Beethoven" are based on the well-known theme of Beethoven's Allegretto from his 7th Symphony.
Performer Biography
Aris Alexander Blettenberg is a versatile musician, also working as a conductor and composer, with his published compositions performed worldwide.
Recording & Production
This recording was made in June 2022 at the L. Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH, Selection Center in Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
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