preparation for Waldstein

[florestan9]

Sometime in the next few years I would like to learn the Waldstein, or at least the first movement, but first I would like to get a few more Beethoven sonatas under my belt (I recently finished 10/3 and have also done the Pathetique, Moonlight, 31/3, and the Appassionata, though not as well as I would have liked).  I like 2/2 and 2/3 so I'm considering one of those... are there any other suggestions as to sonatas that might be helpful as preparation for the W.?  Thanks

[sharon_f]

If you can handle the Op. 57, you should be able to handle the Waldstein.

[florestan9]

to answer my own question in case future readers are interested, 10/3 seems to be an excellent preparation by itself.  The two sonatas share many of the same technical problems, but 10/3 is much more manageable.  Also much shorter 

[nicco]

Im playing the waldstein right now great sonata. Hard to play flawless though.

[florestan9]

Physically it's very demanding and I get tired very quickly while practicing it.  But it's a great piece - I love the middle section of the first movement with the triplets that change key every few measures.  Started looking at the 3rd movement earlier today -- it seems to be even nastier than the first! 

[nicco]

The 3rd movement is actually rather easy, though it has its difficulties, for example the trill and melody in RH and fast scales in LH, and most of the prestissimo part is rather nasty. other then that its pretty simple stuff.  About the physical aspect, being in good physical shape is a must for the waldstein. I use to warm up with lots of heavy octaves, like liszt HR6 or a czerny, after this waldtein is piece of cake physically speaking

[maxy]

?  If you did op 10#3, 27#2, 13, 31#3 and 57... op 53 should not be a problem.

[turner]

I've played Op. 57 as well, though not the Waldstein. These 2 are generally discussed together for obvious reasons (from the same period, comparable difficulties, etc.).

You do need to make certain technical decisions that are unique to Waldstine.  Well, I can only think of one, that is, the octave glissandi in the last movement--whether to do these as true glissandi, or divide into two hands.