Beethoven Project

[alexsanko]

I would like to learn three Beethoven sonatas for a personal recording, and I have no timeline so I am in no hurry. I hope to learn, memorize, and record Sonata #8, Op. 13 ("Pathetique"), Sonata #14, Op. 27, No. 2 ("Moonlight"), and Sonata #17, Op. 31, #2 ("Tempest"). I personally am also annoyed and confused at "which is easiest?"-type questions, but I am simply asking which one you would begin with. Starting with the 'easiest' or 'hardest' does not matter to me, however, for example, if Op. 13 would enable me to practise melodic phrasing on a large scale that would be beneficial to a more complex passage in Op. 27, No. 2, thats something I'd like to know when selecting which one to begin with. Also, I don't plan on recording all three at the same time, I'd record one, begin the other, record it, and then finish with whichever one I chose last. Thank you 

[preludetr]

I've played all of those to some degree and I would say the Pathetique is a bit easier than the other two, so maybe a good order is Pathetique - Tempest - Moonlight

Another option is to just work on all of them at once. Some people might consider this a better option, actually, since you're dealing with a greater variety of challenges at once that will give you more experience.

[chopinlover01]

I'd do them all at once.
They're honestly about the same difficulty; the only bit of the Moonlight that should give you a bit of trouble is, of course, the third movement, which is comparable to the third movement of the tempest or the first movement of the pathetique.
All in all, I'd say the Tempest is probably the most difficult, followed by the Pathetique, followed by the moonlight.