Ultima 2020 - Oslo Sinfonietta & Hans Zender's Beethoven Interpretation

Destroy or celebrate? A Beethoven piano classic reconstructed

Oslo Sinfonietta Kulturkirken Jakob 18/9, 20.00 150/250 NOK

Oslo Sinfonietta Christian Eggen – conductor

Hans Zender: 33 Veränderungen über 33 Veränderungen (2011/2019) (New Version 2019 – A Composed Interpretation of Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations)

Walking a line between respect and the urge to destroy in order to make new, much of Hans Zender’s work is a reinterpretation of iconic pieces from classical composers such as Haydn, Schubert, Schumann and Debussy. Now Oslo Sinfonietta tackle Zender’s 33 Variations on 33 Variations, which takes Beethoven’s Diabelli Variationsas its starting point. In composing this piece, Zender had to endure a balancing act between his love of the music and his urge to destroy it. He already viewed Beethoven’s original as a visionary work pointing the way forward from classical music and romanticism, towards a modern sensibility.

While the Diabelli Variations are a solo piano work, Zender’s reconstruction for small ensemble almost entirely removes the instrument, and adds the distinctive sound of the accordion.

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(Photo: Anna Valeur)