Variations on a theme of a Ukrainian folk song "A neighbor has a white house", Op. 18
Fantasy on a Russian folk song "How did I upset you" and a Krakowiak, FXWM VII:30
Variations on a theme of the first Finale of "Don Giovanni" by W. A. Mozart, Op. 2
Variations for 2 and 3 hands on a theme "Je t'aime tant" by P. J. Garat, FXWM VII:18
Variations on an unknown theme, Op. 13
Variations on a Marche Golcondoise from the first act of "Aline, Reine de Golconde" by H. M. Berton, Op. 3
Variations on an Ukrainian theme "The wagons rolling down the hill", Op. 6
Two variations on a Waltz of Anton Diabelli, FXWM VII:35

A divertingly welcome release of some of the piano music by one of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's sons, Franz Xaver Mozart (1791-1844). Compared to his father, the number of available recordings of his highly inventive music is rather abysmal. Odd when you consider all the fuss over and scrutiny of his father's music, that his own music didn't at least warrant more interest from a musicological perspective. He was just over four months old when his father died and was also known as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Jr. in unofficial circles. He obtained solid musical training from Albrechtsberger, Hummel and Salieri, and went on to become a respected music teacher himself as well as a concert pianist.

Despite the Theme and Variations musical form not being the best suited to display a composer's originality and development skills, these sets of variations nonetheless demonstrate that Franz Xaver Mozart had mastered skills beyond his father's reach. Innovative touches including bold contrasts, harmonic diversity, counterpoint and technically challenging passages (see audio clip below from the Diabelli), all corroborate the fact that his music stands on its own merits.

Ukrainian born, Swiss resident pianist Andriy Dragan oversees this music from precisely its proper historical heritage and chronological perspective. He approaches the music from a vestigially galant style inherited from Wolfgang, but also brings out its pre-Romantic aspirations and extra-Viennese outlook. You can hear the foreshadow of Schubert and Beethoven within his highly expressive and dynamically flexible playing. Add to this an exceptional technique and highly articulate phrasing well captured by a realistic audio recording, and this CD becomes a must-have for any and all enthusiasts of piano music from that era.