Beethoven: Eroica Variations; Brahms: Handel Variations (2004)

Seta Tanyel is one of those pianists who deserve to be heard more often, both in concert and on recordings, but who gets lost among the hundreds of other professional pianists. Usually she is found on CDs championing the works of lesser-known composers and repertoire, but here she gives first-rate readings of two more mainstream works: Brahms' Variations on a theme of Handel and Beethoven's "Eroica" Variations. Tanyel has an understanding of both Beethoven's and Brahms' approach to writing for the piano and writing ... Read More

Seta Tanyel is one of those pianists who deserve to be heard more often, both in concert and on recordings, but who gets lost among the hundreds of other professional pianists. Usually she is found on CDs championing the works of lesser-known composers and repertoire, but here she gives first-rate readings of two more mainstream works: Brahms' Variations on a theme of Handel and Beethoven's "Eroica" Variations. Tanyel has an understanding of both Beethoven's and Brahms' approach to writing for the piano and writing variations. She is clearly aware of Brahms' particular use of thematic development, the way he often links variations together in pairs. She is also sensitive to the character of the music, whether it is a dance or a fugue or a simple air, and combines that sensitivity with the more academic aspects of a work to give the listener a fully rounded musical experience. She begins the Brahms with the relatively unadorned aria, just as if she were performing a Handel suite, then moves easily... Read Less