Beethoven Sonatas

[tater_tot]

Hello everyone,

I'm a 22 year old pianist studying in (please don't laugh too hard) Wichita, Kansas. I am trying to finalize an upcoming recital program for the 05-06 school year, but am having a hard time settling on a Beethoven sonata. Here's the rest of the program, plus some possible sonatas:

Bach- Partita no. 3
Copland- Sonata
Liszt- Mephisto Waltz no. 1
Beethoven- Op. 31, no. 1/Op. 31, no.3

Suggestions are welcome. At this point I'm starting to get a little desperate.

[TheHammer]

How long are they supposed to be (time limits)?
You can probably play any sonata if you are able to learn the Mephisto Waltz...so why take these rather easy ones?

No, no, I like these two out of op.31 more than the tempest. Personally, I would do the 3rd. What are you looking for (in terms of difficulty, style, lenght)?


Other sonatas:
for the obscure guy: op.22/(op.54)
on the easy side: op.27 nr.1/ op.26/op.28
on the hard side: op.7/op.53/op.57/op.81a/ any of the last three
on the extremely hard side: op.101/op.106

So... these would be MY considerations. If I were you, I would either choose between op.109/op.110 for a really spiritual experience, or between op. 28, op. 7 and op. 81a.
Guess Waldstein and Appassionata are overdone, Hammerklavier - nah. Op.22 can be very interesting, but it is really a bit the traditional Beethoven.

Currently learning op. 101. That is a hard one, but sure one of his best,and rather short (around 20 minutes). If you consider it, make sure first to have a very close look at the fugato development of the finale and the second movement.

[tater_tot]

I'm really trying to find something that will fit well with the Bach for a balanced 1st half. Personally, I'm not too concerned about difficulty or length as long as I can keep the 1st half to about 45 minutes. Obviously, something like the Op. 106 would be out since it's an entire half by itself. I would like to do Op. 110, but considering that I will, most likely, be using this repertoire for Grad. school audtitions am afraid that I might end up shooting myself in the foot.

[etudes]

you can also do Eroica variation and fugue after bach

[etudes]

oops sorry i forgot the topic that asked for beethoven sonatas
you can also put op.2 no.3 (but overplayed) but very beautiful and technical demanding

[sharon_f]

I love Op. 31, No.3 and think it would go perfectly well with the Bach.

[Skeptopotamus]

Op. 109 is the hardest non-impossible one, and it's not too long.  Go with that.

[mwarner1]

Op. 31/3 sounds like a good idea to me -- it's a great piece, about 22 minutes long, and it's not played very often. It's got some really catchy moments, too. I think you could play it after the Bach and end the first half of the recital with it. Actually, this piece can really go anywhere in the recital that you want. You could start or end either half with it. Go for it, I say!

[jehangircama]

If you can play the mephisto waltz, try the op81a Les Adiuex sonata. its a nice piece when played well and I don't think its as tough as say the Appasionata or the Waldstein. for a good recording of the sonatas go to bbc radio 3's Arthur Pizzaro sonata cycle and see which ones you like. They are played pretty well and an introduction is also given.