Beethoven Op 78

[nanabush]

Hey, I have a few questions about this piece.

So far, I've played the Beethoven Op 13, and Op 10 #1, and have the Op 78 as a potential sonata for this summer (I'm doing an exchange in France).  Technique-wise this will NOT pose a problem; I'm playing stuff post-ARCT in Canada (~LRSM-FRSM in the states) for my jury, but to be honest I have not played nine or ten other sonatas by Beethoven like pretty much everyone else in the music department.

This is one of Beethoven's later sonatas; is it 'untouchable' like the op 101-110 ones for someone who hasn't played enough of his stuff?  I'm still working at my stuff for April, but took a look through the first movement, and there didn't seem to be any insane writing that I wouldn't have the maturity to understand.

Looking through other threads on Beethoven's stuff, it's mostly been a matter of having a feel for his stuff rather than raw technique; people play loads of Chopin Etudes, Ravel, Bach, etc, but still get told that they need to wait longer to successfully play a late-ish Beethoven. 

If anyone here has actually played the sonata, I'd just like a few comments on it.  I've had a couple threads like these in the past few months, because right now I don't think my teacher wants to start discussing new repertoire while I'm coming closer to my jury.

I'm aware that the second movement is a beast technically and musically, but if I've played two early Beethoven sonatas, do I still have to work my way up to it, or is it a realistic choice if I will be working on it thoroughly with my prof? 

...My prof will usually let us bring what we want to him, but he has no problem after ten minutes saying "choose something else, you won't be able to play this" haha.  I just want a realistic opinion from someone who has played this or is studying it, on why this would be a good/bad choice for a next sonata.

[birba]

Beautiful piece and underplayed.  I did it once in a competition (in the dark ages) and got "stuck" in the ronḍ!   SOOOOO embarassing.  The second movement can be nasty.  The main problem begins in the 12th measure and the figurations of the 16th notes.  They have to be played in "slurs" and it's not easy at that speed.

[mephisto]

I have played this sonata. It is very beautifull, but I wouldn't consider it one of Beethoven's most profound sonatas, so I don't think it should pose that many musical difficulties.

These are the biggest challenges IMO:
To make the first movement sing.
To show the contrasts between ff and pp (obviously importent in all classical pieces)
Think opera: question and answer and different characters.
Make the 2nd movement playfull and funny.

[prongated]

I'm playing stuff post-ARCT in Canada (~LRSM-FRSM in the states) for my jury, but to be honest I have not played nine or ten other sonatas by Beethoven like pretty much everyone else in the music department.

You are from Canada then? Where are you studying presently, if I may ask?

I'm aware that the second movement is a beast technically and musically, but if I've played two early Beethoven sonatas, do I still have to work my way up to it, or is it a realistic choice if I will be working on it thoroughly with my prof? 

It is an absolutely fine and realistic (and I think, good) choice! Overall, it is not more difficult than something like op. 10 no. 1 IMO - they have a different set of challenges is all. No, the 2nd movt. is not a big challenge musically - definitely nowhere near the challenge that the 1st one is. Technically it is also manageable.

These are the biggest challenges IMO:
To make the first movement sing.

The problem is more than that simply making it sing; it's to do with the overall character. The music is very elegant, with a certain ardour befitting a royalty. Pretty much all young pianists (myself included) tend to pick a tempo that is too brisk or to rush and/or add rubato, whereas calm and simplicity serves the music the best.

Think opera: question and answer and different characters.

I wouldn't think of it in an operatic sense - I don't think Beethoven thought of keyboard music in that sense, unlike Mozart. Then again, I suppose it may be appropriate in the development section.

[mephisto]

I wouldn't think of it in an operatic sense - I don't think Beethoven thought of keyboard music in that sense, unlike Mozart. Then again, I suppose it may be appropriate in the development section.

I was mainly thinking of the 2nd mvt.

[nanabush]

Thanks for the replies!  Makes me feel a bit better about this one 

prongated: I'm doing my first year at University of Ottawa.

[slow_concert_pianist]

This is a big sonata for such a small work (by Beethoven's standards) and very easy to play badly. Opus 54 (number 22) is similarly appealing. From a technical perspective (for Op78), there is nothing that absolute attention to detail won't remedy. Ironically I think it is classical revisited, but must be played in Beethoven's style. Your work on the Pathetique should serve you well.

[liordavid]

pretty hard piece, i do think after a couple of earlier sonatas that u cn tackle this one. I think that more of the technique comes from the 2nd movement. in those 16th notes, try practicing them as chords or grace notes.