Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata 23 (Appassionata)
in F Minor, Op. 57
Beethoven’s own favorite piano sonata is dominated by a sense of anger and frustration - nothing can prepare you for the first movement’s violent outburst and crashing chords.
Year: 1805
Period: Classical
Piano score: PS Urtext 
Audiovisual Study Tool
A cry of desperation
Beethoven’s Sonata in f minor op. 57 was composed when Beethoven was coming to terms with the fact that he was going deaf, and the frustration that he felt can be heard throughout the piece. After Beethoven’s death, it was given the unofficial title Appassionata, as it is considered one of the most emotionally tempestuous of Beethoven's piano works.The first movement begins with a slow, mysterious melody, played in unison. Soon the restrained atmosphere gives way to loud, intense outbursts. The ‘fate’ motive is everywhere, contrasting with the second, more lyrical subject. Dark and ominous sounds dominate this movement, and a sense of restlessness remains even during the brighter moments. The extremes of the piano are used to great effect. This movement demands a lot in terms of interpretative maturity and control of extreme dynamics. Things quiet down in the more introspective second movement, calling for exactness of timing in its very original and predominantly rhythmic variations on a drastically simple theme in D-flat major.
The third movement returns to the emotional intensity of the first. It is an exercise in perpetual motion, partly strangely subdued and partly chaotic, testing the performer's stamina, but also the ability to distribute and hold back power. Czerny imagines "the waves of the sea on a stormy night, whilst cries of distress are heard from afar". At the end the storm is unleashed in a tumultuous, violent coda. It's often pointed out that this is Beethoven's only work to maintain a sense of tragic doom throughout.
Background
The Sonata in F minor opus 57 is known as the Appassionata (meaning "passionate" in Italian), but it was not given that name until after Beethoven's death, by the publisher of a four-hand arrangement of the work. According to Czerny, up to his writing his Hammerklavier-Sonata, Beethoven considered this his greatest sonata. In 1803, he had been given an Erard piano which had an extended range of five and a half octaves, which he uses at the very beginning of the sonata, going down to the lowest note available - the bottom F.Forum posts about this piece:
Piano Performance Masters Audition Repertoire by blastzit
Hi! I know this topic has been posted a million times, but I’d like some advice as well. I will be auditioning to music schools next year for a masters program, and I’m currently thinking of choosing some...
Any other tips for Appassionata Sonata Movement 3? by caters
Movement 3 is the hardest movement of the entire sonata for me and it's the one movement that is preventing me from being able to perform the sonata. Mainly because of this left hand tremolo part as it...
Am I skilled enough to play Appassionata 3rd movement? by classicalstudent1
I have learned piano for about 5 years. Some of the harder pieces I can play are moonlight sonata 3rd mov and chopin's revolutionary etude(without mistake). I thinking of trying appassionata 3rd mov, but...
Tips forBeethoven Appassionata Sonata (no 23) by calculaepp
Hello, I was thinking of learning the Appasionata! Here are some of the pieces I have already learned. Beethoven Moonlight sonata (all movements) Chopin etude op 25 no 11 (Winter wind)
Ranking these pieces in difficulty by charles coop
How would you rank these works in increasing difficulty? -Prokofiev Sonata 8 -Rachmaninov Sonata 2 -Scriabin Sonata 3 -Janacek Sonata "From the Street" -Beethoven...
Need a help for program incl. Appassionata by bubblessomewhere
Hello everyone:) Which post-romantic or contemporary piece goes well with Beethoven Appasionata? :))
Octaves in Beethoven Appasionata by tripletrobot42
Hello friends! I hope you all are doing well! This is my first post on here, so I apologize if I say anything wrong or cringey :-\ I have a question about how to convincingly play the legato...
Lecture concert Appassionata by bubblessomewhere
Hello everyone:) I have to prepare a lecture concert exam about Appassionata. Have you ever heard of Appassionata in a lecture concert? How was it? If you are planning to visit a lecture concert...
Appassionata Inspirations by bubblessomewhere
Hello everyone:) I have to prepare a lecture concert exam about Appassionata. Have you ever heard of Appassionata in a lecture concert? How was it? If you are planning to visit a lecture concert...
Virtuosic Baroque piece / University Audition by ellarosie
Hello everyone:) I've been searching for a virtuosic Baroque piece that I can play for my University Audition in October. The rest of my prgramm will be: Mendelssohn Fantasy op. 28
Need Repertoire Advice for Master of Music Audition by maestrowoojulee
I'm applying to top tier grad programs next year and would like your opinions on what kind of pieces are great for ~10 min auditions. Usually the school requires minimum of 3-4 pieces from contrasting...
Beethoven Appassionata, advice needed by guilleferra
Does anybody can answer the two following doubts about correct reading? 1)why in the attached passage, in bar n. 105 the last two A moll in the left hand are legato? If that was played literally the last A...
Learning Pieces by didi100
I know its different for every student, but this question is for more advanced students. How long does it take to learn a movement from Waldstein or Appassionata with proficiency? Its taking me months to...
NEC/Equivalent Conservatory Auditions by skywalker_06
Hello All! Currently, I'm a junior in high school and I'm planning my audition program for next year, when I will be auditioning for a few conservatories, my top choice being NEC!
Learning A Piece in 2-3 Days by fabrizzioreiv
I have acknowledged that classical music will not be appropriate in a school talent show and modified this post: can any of the following pieces be learnt in a week or less (I do not plan on playing any...
Crazy idea by expressman70
Hey all, Lately ive been getting into Beethoven. What if instead of learning a full 3 movement sonata (Waldstein, Les Adieux, Appasionata) I learn the last movement of each? I...
Are you a Beethovenist? by expressman70
Hi, Do you believe that Beethoven and Bach alone are the true indicators of real, pure musicianship? What do Beethoven sonatas give to a forming pianist? With what mindset should I...
Easy(ish) repertoire by tmjorden
So I am doing a competition in about a week and hopefully January. I have been working on the same pieces for along time, so I'm getting ready to start new ones. I have already started some stuff for new...
Part 2: OCTAVES.... Earlking, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6, Appassionata (coda 1st m by mrcreosote
The original thread, [url=www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=24891.0]www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=24891.0[/url] is very informative and the OP brings up a great observation:...
appasionata 3rd movement help? by sumpianodude
so in my free time (off to the side) I've been learning Beethoven's op.57, mvt 3. I've been working on it for a while now but only occasionally seriously practiced it(metronome, rhythm exercises,...
The more I learn the less I know by tinyhands
Recently I feel I have entered a new phase in my piano playing which is quite exciting for me. I feel that the more I learn well it's like the less I know. Does that make sense to anyone? But instead of...
Sonata 23 (Appassionata) Op. 57 in F Minor, a composition by the classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven. The piano score of this piece was first published in 1805 and is part of Sonatas by Beethoven.