Variations on a well-liked theme, mainly from contemporary operas, were extremely popular at the end of the 18th century. Even the young Beethoven made several contributions to this genre. We do not know of any concrete occasion for the composition of the three cycles of Variations for Violoncello and Piano Œ_ they are on two themes from MozartŒÍs ŒñThe Magic FluteŒî and one from HandelŒÍs oratorio ŒñJudas MaccabaeusŒî. The number of reproductions at that time does, however, reveal that they were very popular right from the beginning. Edited by Jens Dufner with fingering and bowing for Violoncello by David Geringas. Contents: 12 Variations on a theme from Hí_ndel's Oratorio "Judas Maccabí_us" G major WoO 45; 12 Variations on "Ein Mí_dchen oder Weibchen" from Mozart's "Zauberflí_te" F major Op. 66; 7 Variations on "Bei Mí_nnern, welche Liebe fí_hlen" from Mozart's "Zauberflí_te" E flat major WoO 46.
