SEVEN VARIATIONS Op.33

'Silvana' is the earliest of Weber's operas to have survived complete despite achieving only moderate success at it's first performance in Frankfurt on 16th September 1810, although the opera was enthusiastically received by a Berlin audience later on. There was a London performance with a libretto in English in 1828 and a revival in Hamburg in 1885.

Weber was in Prague in December 1811, on a concert tour with the outstanding clarinettist Heinrich Baermann, when he wrote the 'Seven Variations on a Theme from Silvana' Op.33 for his friend. The aria "Warum musst' ich" (Why do I have to?) is the very singable theme (Andante con moto) on which Weber based his attractive and contrasting variations. The first (Piu vivo) is built on a strong triplet rhythm followed by a contrasting piano solo (Con grazia) as Variation II. The third variation (Molto adagio, quasi fantasia) emphasizes its 'fantasia' qualities and is punctuated with falling chromatic runs. It contrasts with Variation IV (Animato e con fuoco) which is another piano solo leading into Variation V. This continues the 'con fuoco' mood in accompanying the clarinet. Variation VI, in Db Major, is the only one to depart from the key of concert Bb and has the clarinet playing an elegiac melody over a funeral march in the piano accompaniment. Variation VII contrasts strongly with that being built on pairs of syncopated quavers for the clarinet and the right hand of the piano part. The piece ends with a reprise of the opening bars of the theme.

• Var. I - Piu vivo
• Var. II - Con grazia (Piano solo)
• Var. III - Molto adagio, quasi fantasia
• Var. IV - Animato e con fuoco
• Var. V - Allegro animato, con fuoco
• Var. VI - Lento
• Var. VII - Allegro

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