Type: Piano Recital
Pianist: Daniel Barenboim
Location: Vienna, Austria
Year: 1983

Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 2 No. 2 is bright, elegant, and flashes with innovation, mischief and originality. Sunny and lyrical, it starts like a Haydn sonata, Beethoven’s teacher, but quickly surprises with sudden mood shifts and quirky turns of phrase. The second movement (Largo appassionato) is unusually rich and expressive. This sonata has its harmonic share of fast runs and brilliant technique, but Beethoven keeps them playful in the scherzo and the skipping finale.