Ivan Ilic - Antoine Reicha: Rediscovered, Vol. 3: L'Art de varier, Op. 57

For this his third volume of works by Antoine Reicha, the pianist Ivan Ili? turns to one of the composer�s most extraordinary works, L�Art de varier, Op. 57. �The Art of Variation� consists of fifty-seven variations on a theme (that the number of variations match the opus number is not a coincidence) and was composed in 1802 � 03, at the beginning of the six-year period which Reicha spent in Vienna, where he studied with Haydn and re-kindled his previous friendship with Beethoven. The set is remarkable for its scale and invention. Ivan Ili? describes the work as the missing link between Bach�s �Goldberg� Variations and Beethoven�s �Diabelli� Variations, which was certainly influenced by Reicha�s work. The recording was made at Potton Hall in S uffolk, on a Steinway Model D grand piano.