Beethoven’s Sonata No. 23 Appassionata

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 (colloquially known as the Appassionata, meaning “passionate” in Italian) is among the three famous piano sonatas of his middle period (the others being the Waldstein, Op. 53 and Les Adieux, Op. 81a); it was composed during 1804 and 1805, and perhaps 1806. The sonata is in the key of F minor.

The Appassionata was considered by Beethoven to be his most tempestuous piano sonata until the twenty-ninth piano sonata (known as the Hammerklavier). It is written during the so-called middle or heroic period of Beethoven, a period of high productivity.

Listen to Beethoven’s Sonata No. 23

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