Rococo Variations

Album by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky & Steven Isserlis & Chamber Orchestra of Europe & Sir John Eliot Gardiner

Variations on a Rococo Theme is a composition for cello and orchestra by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, completed in 1876. The work adopts a classical-leaning rococo style that draws on 18th-century models with theme-and-variations writing that showcases the cello's lyrical qualities against an elegantly supportive orchestral texture, and it stands as Tchaikovsky's main contribution to the Romantic-era cello repertoire.
First released: 1990

Tracklist

  1. 1.
    Variations on a Rococo Theme, op. 33: I. Moderato assai quasi andante
    0:56
  2. 2.
    Variations on a Rococo Theme, op. 33: II. Thema. Moderato semplice
    0:58
  3. 3.
    Variations on a Rococo Theme, op. 33: III. Variation I. Tempo della thema
    0:52
  4. 4.
    Variations on a Rococo Theme, op. 33: IV. Variation II. Tempo della thema
    2:45
  5. 5.
    Variations on a Rococo Theme, op. 33: V. Variation III. Andante
    2:32
  6. 6.
    Variations on a Rococo Theme, op. 33: VI. Variation IV. Allegro vivo
    1:15
  7. 7.
    Variations on a Rococo Theme, op. 33: VI. Variation V. Andante grazioso
    2:02
  8. 8.
    Variations on a Rococo Theme, op. 33: VII. Variation VI. Allegro moderato
    1:54
  9. 9.
    Variations on a Rococo Theme, op. 33: VIII. Variation VII. Andante sostenuto
    3:27
  10. 10.
    Variations on a Rococo Theme, op. 33: IX. Variation VIII e coda. Allegro moderato e con anima
    2:11
  11. 11.
    Two Pieces, op. 20: I. Mélodie
    7:13
  12. 12.
    Two Pieces, op. 20: II. Sérénade Espagnole
    2:53
  13. 13.
    Nocturne, op. 19 no. 4
    4:19
  14. 14.
    Serenade, op. 37
    4:34
  15. 15.
    Andante cantabile, op. 11
    6:49
  16. 16.
    Deux Morceaux, op. 36: I. Scherzando (Allegretto mosso)
    5:08
  17. 17.
    Deux Morceaux, op. 36: II. Cantabile (Andante)
    3:40
  18. 18.
    Pezzo capriccioso, op. 62
    5:55
  19. 19.
    Chant du menestrel, op. 71
    4:13

Credits