This piano sonata was dedicated to Beethoven’s friend and arts patron Count Ferdinand Ernst Gabriel von Waldstein – that is why the work became known as the “Waldstein sonata”.  This piece is also known as L’Aurore (The Dawn), for the opening sounds of the third movement.  This is a challenging and heroic sonata from Beethoven’s middle period.

0:00 1^st movement - Allegro con brio  

11:30 2^nd movement - Introduzione: Adagio molto

15:30 3^rd movement – Rondo: Allegretto moderato – Prestissimo