Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

Diversions (1940)

for piano (left hand) and orchestra

  • General information
    • Composition date: 1940
      Revision dates: 1954
    • Duration: 23 mn
    • Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes
    • Opus: 21
    • Dedication: 'For Paul Wittgenstein'
Detailed formation
  • soloist: 1 piano
  • 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 3 bassoons, 1 alto saxophone, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba, 1 percussionist, 1 timpani, 1 harp, strings

Premiere information

  • Date: 16 January 1942

    Performers:

    Paul Wittgenstein et le Philadelphia Orchestra, direction : Eugène Ormandy.

Table of contents

  • Theme
  • Var. 1. Recitative
  • Var. 2. Romance
  • Var. 3. March
  • Var. 4. Arabesque
  • Var. 5. Chant
  • Var. 6. Nocturne
  • Var. 7. Badinerie
  • Var. 8. Burlesque
  • Var. 9. a) Toccata 1 ; b) Toccata 2
  • Var. 10. Adagio
  • Finale - Tarantella