Themes And Variations – Calvin Abdiel

For his debut recording, on the prestigious Decca Australia label, Australian pianist Calvin Abdiel presents three technically complex piano works by three exemplary Romantic composers. All works are based on the theme/variation form. For Schumann’s fiendishly challenging Etudes symphoniques, Calvin adds his own interpolated sequence of the posthumous variations. The equally demanding Liszt showpiece based around three melodies from Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and the recital concludes with the near ‘unplayable’ Paganini Variations of Brahms, which Clara Schumann referred as the ‘Witch’s Variations’.

Dubbed by The Australian as the ‘Piano Man’ and noted for his ‘extraordinary pianistic authority’, the Indonesian/Australian pianist Calvin Abdiel is establishing himself as one of the finest young musicians internationally. He has given high profile performances in numerous countries, including Australia, Austria, Russia, Indonesia, Germany, Denmark and Switzerland. In 2021 he won the highest position of any Australian pianist at the Sydney International Piano Competition and also took out third prize.