Prima Facie Records

Variations: Simon Conning plays Beethoven (PFDL002)

Compositions by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Simon Conning
Five Variations on Rule Britannia WoO 79
Seven Variations on God Save the King WoO 78

Available on Apple Music, Spotify and other providers.

This recording is the second in the Prima Facie series of download / streaming-only releases.

Simon Conning, returning to the recording studio at the age of 60 after his well-received Meridian CD Muzio Clementi “The Father of the Pianoforte”, performs vibrant and expressive interpretations of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Five Variations on 'Rule Britannia', WoO 79, and Seven Variations On God Save The King, WoO 78. Published in 1803, these short, rarely recorded pieces display a playful and humorous element in Beethoven, who during the early 19th century arranged over 100 British folk songs.

The Variations were recorded at St Elizabeth’s Church, Ashley, Cheshire on the 4th of April 2023, using the Bösendorfer piano seen in the cover photograph.

Simon Conning began his studies with Marjorie Kelly, then continued at the Royal Northern College of Music’s Junior Department in Manchester with Marjorie Clementi. He went on to study at the Royal College of Music in London with Yu Chun Yee. Since returning to the concert platform, Simon has appeared as soloist in concertos and recitals in North West and South East England. Currently, Simon is working on a number of projects with the Prima Facie Records label, including a volume of contemporary piano music. Simon made his recording debut in 2014 with 'Muzio Clementi: The Father of the Pianoforte' on Meridian Records. Jeremy Eskenazi, in his review of the disc for '18th-Century Music', notes that “Conning is a highly intelligent and perceptive performer, armed with pianistic abilities that allow him to project the music with integrity, thoughtfulness and conviction.”