Masterpiece

I've just discovered a classical piece that I can't help but rank up there with my favourite pieces of all time. Like pretty much all of my favourites, it's for solo piano, but surprisingly it's by Beethoven, as opposed to Bach or Liszt. Apparently it's a fairly famous sonata though I've never heard it before, or even of it, which is a tad confusing.

If you've got half an hour to spare, then I highly recommend putting on your best headphones, or your fancy speaker system, closing your eyes and just listening to this (or, if you're a pianist, you may want to watch the spectacular playing too).

Ludwig van Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Opus 53 (Waldstein sonata).

First movement - based around a recurring theme in the right hand, with wonderful dynamics in the left hand rhythm. I especially love the question/answer style of the melody about halfway through this too. I was particularly touched by the subject group that starts with the anti-climax ending around 3:43, which ends around 4:18, listen closely to that.


The drama in the second movement is breathtaking, as the music reaches a frenzied state right at the higher register around 1:30 in, and then swiftly descends with crashing bass notes. The pianist, Claudio Arrau does an amazing job at conveying the drama of the music to us, you can see and hear the passion in everything he plays.


Third movement - unbelievable rhythms in the left hand, this must be murderous to play. Watch his left hand around 4:36 - you'll see what I mean. This movement also features some dischordant phrases, unusual for Beethoven but spectacularly pulled off. Fantastic playing around 7:00 too, pulling off a right hand melody whilst maintaining a fast trill there too - pretty difficult non? Fantastic piece, wonderfully played. Enjoy.