Searching for a Beethoven sonata (and perhaps other pieces?)

[four_ballades]

Hi all,

This is my first post here. I'm looking for some guidance in picking a Beethoven sonata to learn.

As some background, I'm not currently taking lessons, but have played the piano for many years and used to study more seriously. I took a break a few years back, but have steadily gotten back into the practice and have started learning new pieces. To give you an idea of skill level, over the past year or so I've learned the following:

Chopin
-op. 10/no. 3 and no. 12 (i.e., the more manageable etudes)
-op. 42 (Waltz in A-flat)
-op. 64/no.2 (Waltz in C-sharp minor)

Brahms
-op. 118/no. 2 (Intermezzo in A)

Rachmaninoff
-op. 23/no. 4 (Prelude in D)

Bach
-BWV 817 (French Suite #6 in E)

These should give one a decent idea of my current skill level.

As for Beethoven sonatas, when I was younger and studying more seriously (around age 12), I played op. 2/no. 1 and op. 10/no. 2. I was starting to play op. 13 (Pathetique) when I stopped lessons and took my hiatus. I learned the three movements but never perfected them. While I could go back to this one, I find it overplayed, and moreover, I'm looking for something new! Any suggestions/guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Additionally, if you have any ideas for other pieces to consider (even short pieces not comparable to a sonata), I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks,
Sam

[visitor]

pure fun!

[picsatsofron]

I guess it kind of depends why you're learning it. Competition? Recital? Just for fun? But there are a lot of neglected Beethoven sonatas that are not too difficult (although all Beethoven is difficult, but by varying degrees). One of my personal favorites is the Op. 79 sonata in G major, which has a lot of sprightly energy and passagework that is not too difficult but sounds really good, plus a beautiful slow movement that sounds like one of the Mendelssohn gondelier lieder. I'm a fan of the op 14 sonatas too, especially the first in E major. They are lighter, but very lyrical pieces that can be very fresh and fun to play. Final recommendation: Pathetique. You started it already, might as well finish, and if you like Chopin etudes it might provide you with the drama and excitement the others I've recommended lack.

[j_menz]

I'm looking for some guidance in picking a Beethoven sonata to learn.
I'm looking for something new! Any suggestions/guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Unfortunately, he hasn't written anything new lately. 

Why not finish off the Pathetique? "Overplayed" is rubbish.

Otherwise, listen through the lot and pick one you like.

[four_ballades]

Thank you both for the helpful responses. This is simply for my own pleasure (not recital or competition), so I've decided to pick the ole' Pathetique back up. It's certainly an exciting sonata! I appreciate the suggestions!

[eusebius12]

Try all the early ones. If you are up to the 8th, you certainly can handle 7 and 6 which are really lovely pieces. 5 is intensely dramatic like 8, but in short breathed bursts. The first 3 are quite tricky in places but are all worth knowing, especially 2 and 3, 3 is the most pianistic of the set. 4 and 11 are rather similar in that they are highly pianistic works with comparatively weak finales. 12-15 are a rich vein of sonatas. All these first 15 sonatas are relatively similar in technical difficulty.