Beethoven Sonatas

If I told you to play a Beethoven Sonata in concert next year which one would you choose? I personally would choose the Waldstein because partly I love it, and secondly I think it sums Beethoven completely

Either Op. 14/2 or 101. Both brilliant and deserve to be heard more.

The Spring Sonata, with a violinist.

OK, OK, about what you're talking about....
Op. 110. I can't play it enough.

opp. 2-3/7/10-2+3/13/14-1+2/27-1+2/53/57/90/110/111

Well, I am playing number 26 (op 81a) in a recital THIS year because it is the piece that really got me interested in serious classical piano as a child and it has been my goal to play it ever since.

However, NEXT year I suppose I would choose number 13 (op 27 #1). I never hear it in concerts and it is an interesting piece, particularly the structure. There are some very Romantic parts in it as well.

My favourites are 109, 57, and 110.

I also really like - love 2/3, 7, 10/3, 26, 27/1, 27/2, 53, 81a, 106.

If I didn't have time to learn another one (like if you asked me now), I'd play op.53 or op.110 because those are the only two I've studied. But otherwise, I'd probably try one of those two, or op. 90 or op.109, possibly op.57.

Op. 49 #2.

If technique were not a consideration, I'd play op. 101.

Kreutzer Sonata is excellent as well, and it also embellishes so much on the piano player's role.

Kreutzer is too much work for too little credit.

Hammerklavier lol

Maybe we need a thread on which Beethoven sonatas most deserve to be heard more!

My easy nominee, by a lot: Op. 31/1 (G major)
The first movement IMO is subtly hilarious.

I would also nominate that one. Actually, I've learned that sonata recently. At the beginning, I wondered what those syncopations were all about and read a bit through it, and then I knew I had to learn it. This sonata is a lot harder than it sounds (especially the second movement which tends to go on a bit, but all three of them have to sound very effortless, quite Mozartean in a way), which might be one reason why it isn't played more often, but it was worth every minute I spent on it.

Opp. 7, 26, 28, 90 and 101 also deserve to be played more often.

As for the original question, I'd play either 31/1 or 101.

31/3 is an absolute delight from beginning to end. Also agree that 101 is an underrated late Beethoven masterpiece.

If I was going to learn a new one, then either 101 or 109. 90 if I was going to pick one I already learned, just because the 1st movement is such a blast to play.

I'm playing 14/2 on my recital.

I'm playing 14/2 on my recital.

The reason I'd play Op. 90 is because the 2nd mvt is such a blast to play!

That means the whole piece is a blast.

Waldstein is my favourite too. But the Sonata Op28 in D (pastorale) is another. As long as it`s not too fast . .

The Pathetique has always been my favorite Beethoven sonata, but I suppose it is too overcooked for a concert. I like Kreisler's suggestion, 14/2 especially. And 110/111 are also solid choices.

If you're asking specifically to find out what I would play, then I would have to say I am not sure. I have very little Beethoven in my "current repertoire" (though I hesitate to even call it a "repertoire"), and my time is very short, so I would have to pick one I've already worked at some point. That would leave me with all the famous ones, and few of the not-so-famous ones. I suppose the level, purpose, and audience of the concert/venue would make the determination for me.

.....

I'd pick one that 1.) I'd already worked on, since it's next year, which is real soon, and 2.) one I really enjoy working on, since it's next year, which is real soon, and I'd have to spend lots of hours on it. Given all that, I think it would be the G major, op. 14, no. 2.

The fugue from the op.110 melts my heart everytime!

109.

Or the 7th violin, which I've played like a hundred times.

Twice in one month? I should've stayed up the extra 21 minutes to see what you keep saying.. haha

I suspect my favorite one to play would be ... the one I happened to be working on at the time!

Well, it's all hypothetical, since I'm not actually working on one.

It sure it!

Yeah, the second movement is really beautiful. I had a tough time memorizing it, though.

It had sounded to me like your having said your "time is short" meant something bad, and wondered out loud about it, then decided it was needless so deleted it. I hope and trust it was.

Of course -- it's just the same thing over and over!

I suppose if I am given an entire year to learn this Sonata, then I would probably choose op. 7. It is one of my all time favorites and one that I personally think is underplayed.

I went back and re-read what I wrote, and realized how that might have sounded. Not at all what I intended. I simply meant I travel a lot, I do not own a piano, and the availability for me to play one is very limited. I'll have to phrase that better in the future so as not to give myself a premature heart attack.

Glad to hear.

Well I decided to learn Op31 no 3, so I guess that makes me a liar!