Appassionata vs. Schubert's c minor 958

[cloches_de_geneve]

Who has played both? How would you rate the degree of difficulty, comparatively?

[ilsa]

I have played both, though I have only learnt the Schubert and not practiced it to recital level as compared to the Appassionata.

Both are not easy to play, but the Appassionata is more difficult in terms of the technique involved while the Schubert requires more mental concentration.  This is not to say that the Schubert last movement does not require a high level of technique, but I found the technique level required comparatively easier than the Appassionata 3rd movement.  However, the Appassionata is far easier to learn the notes and memorise because the whole movement is basically one continuous scale. 

I find the Schubert last movement more difficult for me personally due to the sheer length of it.  Although much of it is exceedingly repetitive (as Schubert is wont to do), the length makes it more difficult to learn.  Additionally, the mental focus required to play this in performance must be quite difficult (I used to stone off while just practicing it, it was so long!)  I find the Schubert might be difficult to play in terms of the musicality too; the lightness of the triplets in the movement is more difficult for me to sustain than the banging around required in the Appassionata 3rd.  However, the Appassionata is just more suited to my style, and it may be different for you. 

[cloches_de_geneve]

What you write fits exactly what I would have anticipated. Incidentally I have seen more pianists struggle with Schubert's last mvt than with the last mvt of the Appassionata in concerts. At some point, they just seem to run out of steam, and if there is something one can definitely not afford to do in D958' taxing last mvt, it is to loose stamina.