Keyboard Conversations: Virtuoso Variations

Few musical forms showcase a composer's imagination quite like the variation. Jeffrey Siegel explores how a simple melody can be transformed into works of dazzling brilliance, profound emotion, and breathtaking virtuosity. The program features Beethoven's exhilarating Variations on God Save the King, Mendelssohn's deeply expressive Variations Sérieuses, Tchaikovsky's radiant Original Theme and Variations, built upon one of his most beautiful melodies, and Rachmaninoff's beloved "18th Variation" from the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Along the way, Siegel reveals the fascinating stories behind these masterworks while demonstrating the remarkable creativity that makes each variation unique.