Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Mozart Sonata K333 in Bb

Yes, it's another one of those 'pretentious amateur seeks difficulty rating' threads.

Basically, how does this piece compare to say Beethoven Op.2 No.1, and what specific technical difficulties are there? Thanks.

From one pretentious amateur to another: I think the Mozart Bflat is of comparable difficulty to the Beethoven Op. 2 No. 1, but the difficulties are somewhat different. The Beethoven is a more fiery piece - especially the outer two movements, and the third movement is difficult.
The difficulty of the Mozart is in the rapid 16th note passage work in the 1st movement. The last movement is by no means easy either.
Both of these pieces, obviously, do not represent the most difficult music by either composer.
BTW, stay tuned, I am in the process of ranking the Beethoven sonatas by difficulty.

If you want to play it so it sounds nice...
I will say I have yet to hear a recording I am even 90% happy with...
There's always something missing... even when the best record it.

Not to hijack, but what do you think is Mozart's most difficult solo piano work?

Peter

Hmm... that is an excellent question. I'd have to give a subjective answer to that (goes without saying).

I'll get flamed for this probably, but k475 or k533.

But personally, when learning the easier sonatas, it was very simple to learn all the notes. Really difficult to be able (for me) to get it the way I wanted (still can't do it).

Whichever one I am playing at the moment.

Seriously though I think it's the Sonata k310. The one written in Paris right after the death of his mother. Every movement is loaded with anguish and the 1st and 3rd are very firey. I don't think even his works for two or three pianos are as busy as this solo one. I just love that 2nd movement. It seems to me like a tribute to his mother with the gracful beauty he saw in her, he then introduces that very simple childhood reminiscent them then it gives way to anguish again with the forte dissonence.

Regards

Steve