Piano Forum

Topic: Beethoven Hardest Piano Sonata  (Read 3028 times)

Offline aweshana21

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 35
Beethoven Hardest Piano Sonata
on: January 19, 2016, 09:45:31 PM
What is Beethoven hardest piano sonata?

Offline chopinlover01

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2118
Re: Beethoven Hardest Piano Sonata
Reply #1 on: January 20, 2016, 02:23:14 AM
There isn't one hardest sonata, since everyone has different strengths.
However, some candidates include,
Op. 53, "Waldstein" in C major
Op. 57 "Appassionata" in F minor
Op. 106 "Hammerklavier" in B flat major
Op. 111, No. 32 in C minor

Offline rubinsteinmad

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1689
Re: Beethoven Hardest Piano Sonata
Reply #2 on: January 20, 2016, 02:55:40 AM
The Waldstein and Appasionata aren't even close   ???

In general, people tend to think Op. 106 "Hammerklavier" is the most difficult. It is also the biggest of the Sonatas by Beethoven. Also, Op. 111 is also considered to be up there as well, but I've met few people who've said that it is harder.

Offline chopinlover01

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2118
Re: Beethoven Hardest Piano Sonata
Reply #3 on: January 20, 2016, 03:04:56 AM
The Waldstein and Appasionata aren't even close   ???
On what basis do you say this, other than reading plenty of top 10 lists?

Offline preludetr

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 85
Re: Beethoven Hardest Piano Sonata
Reply #4 on: January 20, 2016, 03:56:18 PM
On what basis do you say this, other than reading plenty of top 10 lists?

I play the Waldstein and have read through the Hammerklavier. The latter is drastically harder and I can't imagine how anyone could think otherwise.

Offline michael_c

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 255
Re: Beethoven Hardest Piano Sonata
Reply #5 on: January 20, 2016, 04:30:37 PM
There are many threads here where people have given their own idea of the difficulty rankings of all the Beethoven sonatas. Here's an aggregate version where somebody has averaged the results of several different lists.

Most pianists (myself included) consider Opus 106 to be the most demanding.

Offline thalbergmad

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 16741
Re: Beethoven Hardest Piano Sonata
Reply #6 on: January 20, 2016, 06:31:57 PM
Who gives a toss?
Curator/Director
Concerto Preservation Society

Offline visitor

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 5294
Re: Beethoven Hardest Piano Sonata
Reply #7 on: January 20, 2016, 08:07:44 PM
Who gives a toss?
*illustrated for dramatic effect. **well said  :)

Offline rubinsteinmad

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1689
Re: Beethoven Hardest Piano Sonata
Reply #8 on: January 21, 2016, 01:26:47 AM
On what basis do you say this, other than reading plenty of top 10 lists?

Dude, I KNOW. It's like, practically obvious once you can play Liszt's Un Sospiro.
For more information about this topic, click search below!
 

Logo light pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts.

Subscribe for unlimited access

Sign up

Follow us

Piano Street Digicert