Ludwig van Beethoven

Sonata

This sonata is easier to study than all the earlier ones, and was therefore always extremely popular. (Carl Czerny).
In fact, among Beethoven's famous piano sonatas, the Grande Sonate pathétique is the one with the most moderate technical demands. However, it is also popular because of its pathetic expression, which captivates the listener from the very first chords.

The new edition is published as a single edition after the revised new edition of Beethoven's complete piano sonatas published in 2018/19. The edition is based on the first edition published in 1799, the second edition published soon afterwards by the original publisher and several early reprints. The latter are particularly important as supplementary sources, as neither the autograph nor copies of them have survived. The Critical Report (in German and English) provides information on the significance of the sources and the editorial decisions. The trilingual preface provides historical background information. The practical performance notes by Beethoven's pupil Carl Czerny also offer first-hand advice on interpretation.