So I recently bought the André Watts recording of the Sonata. I must say I am AMAZED. This was my first listening of the Sonata, and the piece has hit a chord (no pun intended) with me, and this will be my next piece I learn. Just a few questions though:

Those octaves in the coda... are they really played that quickly??? My God, my hand doesn't move that fast. It seems as if Liszt is constantly writing music that I want to play, but I just can't (my thread on Feux Follets and physical limitations comes to mind).

The final, lowest B... is it supposed to be held out longer than indicated? I have heard the final note played almost staccato, and this had an interesting effect on the music.

The market is not only NOT short of recordings of this master piece, as a matter of fact actually is 'flooded' with too many. At your university you should have no trouble, I assume, to check out a few versions and give them a listening. Some of the Qs raised here will be answered or better you will come to more enlightened answers and ideas by yourself.

1) In this particular recording the coda is played incredibly fast : in the others I've heard (for example, Zimerman), it's much slower and still beautiful. However I must admit I prefer it played fast, like Watts does

2) I'm no expert and never played the piece but I think I'd personnaly play this B staccato, as you said, maybe like a reminiscence of the beggining of the piece (but my idea may be stupid I don't know :p )