What is the most underrated Beethoven piano sonata?

[kakeithewolf]

I recently got MIDIs of all Beethoven's sonatas, save for the 32nd piano sonata , and I started wondering, which is the most underappreciated? I personally found the second sonata rather underappreciated. What are your thoughts on the most underappreciated of the sonata(s)?

[mysterium]

11 in Bb major. It is a lot of fun to play, and not one of the harder ones. In my experience not played very often

[lecafe88]

Pretty much any one without a nickname is underrated, but if I had to choose one I'd say the 10th one in G major (Op 14 No.2). It is almost never performed on stage because it is easy and sounds easy as well (there are pieces that are relatively easy but sound way harder than they are-See Pathetique 1st and Moonlight 3rd). It is such a playful piece but you'll only ever hear this from a professional if he/she attempted the entire cycle of 32, and when I played this in a masterclass, the pianist remarked to me "I've seen many live performances of LVB sonatas but I've never seen this one".

An honourable mention goes to the 3rd one (Op 2 No.3). This one is much more frequently attempted by professionals, but is clearly overshadowed by a later C major work known as the Waldstein.

[sharon_f]

Op. 7, a great sonata that no one plays.

[fnork]

op. 54 is very seldomly heard. It's full of humour and energy, but isn't heard much at all. Glad you mentioned op 2:2, which I think is the best of the first three sonatas - I also find some elements in it that seem to echo Schubert...

[symphonicdance]

By famous pianists?  Yes, probably a number of them will be played less often.  Fortunately, there are a number of these less often played ones remained on (junior/intermediate) exam / competition / music festival syllabi.  They are not that "neglected", fortunately.

[pianoman1800]

Op 31 no 3!! Fantastic sonata. But I do agree that op 14 no 2 is underrated, probably just because it sounds easy. The second Movement of it is in my opinions one of the most beautiful melodies Beethoven ever wrote! You can basically say it is a "better version of the second Movement from symphony no 7, thought they are similar, but the sonata is better!

[classicalnhiphop]

opus 27 no 1

[gyzzzmo]

Although Beethoven brought some enlightning to the music in that era (even he was definitely not the only one), i think Beethoven is in general a bit overrated.

[visitor]

Bonn Sonata No3  (i think woO 47 No 3 )three. It's charming, hardly anyone plays it , and these three are always left out of 'complete Beethoven Sonatas' published volumes and recordings. No 3 is the most successful of the lot though.

[amytsuda]

My favorite that doesn't come up on others' is Op 28 Pastoral. Not sure under-appreciated by others, but I appreciate it too much

[j_menz]

The Fantasia Sonata in D:

(Score for free here)


EDIT: I can't actually view that here (country restricted), but it looks like the wrong clip - can someone confirm whether or not  it's the work mentioned?

And of course....

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  squared.

 

[mikeowski]

The Fantasia Sonata in D:

Of course not to be confused with the much happier Sonatas in :D, :) and :P.