One of the ways that Beethoven continued to pay homage to the memory of Mozart was by writing sets of variations on tunes from Mozart’s operas. The work known as WoO 40 is a set of variations for violin and piano based on the aria “Se vuol ballare” from “The Marriage of Figaro.”
In Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro,” when the Count’s valet Figaro learns that the Count wants to bed Figaro's fiancée Susanna, he plots a scheme to stop him and turn the tables on the Count. Figaro sings the aria “Se vuol ballare” — “If you want to dance, I will play the tune.”
#Beethoven250 Day 33
Variations on “Se vuol ballare" from Mozart's “The Marriage of Figaro” for Violin and Piano (WoO 40), 1792–93
Beethoven’s exceptionally inventive variations on Mozart’s “Se vuol ballare” are performed in Taipei by violinist Chih-I Chiang and pianist David Fung.
In the Beaumarchais play on which “The Marriage of Figaro” is based, “Se vuol ballare” takes the place of a more subversive monologue by Figaro: “Because you are a nobleman you think you are a great man! What did you do to deserve it? You took the trouble to be born!”
Beethoven’s use of “Se vuol ballare” might reflect his ambivalent feelings about the nobility with whom he often surrounded himself. He relied upon their generosity and good will for his financial and professional support, but he also resented his dependency on that support.