I've seen and tried to sight read the score, and I think that it's not too hard. I mean, I feel I can really get some of the difficult passages smooth only after a bit of practice. Not to underestimate, of course, but I think that it's not too brilliant for a Beethoven work, the themes aren't too interesting, a bit like Mozart. What do you think?

Hi DGA - I've been learning this concerto myself. I started in March, and if it's had an hour's practise a week it's been doing well, but as you identify it's not too hard to get under the fingers at a basic level. I can mostly get through from memory now.
I'm finding it more of a problem in terms of physical strength and stamina, particularly version 3 of the cadenza.

The slow movement needs very careful work - I think it's all too easy to rush the opening when you consider how you have to deal with the more expanded theme later on.

Haven't tackled the 3rd movement yet. This having a full time job thing gets in the way.

So no, I don't think it's a fiendishly hard work, but requires it solid technical control a large helping of bravura to pull off - where I'm at at the moment it's an excellent piece to learn. Good luck finding something that offers the learning experience you're after.

Beethoven's Piano Concerto's get no easier than the 1st movement of the 1st Concerto

if you want difficult, the Rondo from the 5th will probably kill you!

I myself have tried playing the first movement of this and like all of Beethoven's Concertos, it IS pretty physically demanding and as said above, the 2nd movement does need plenty of careful practise, especially for getting the cue notes played in time.

the 3rd movement, well, i personally think that the main theme is the hardest rondo themes ive ever come across, only ones i can think that are harder are the Beethoven 5th and the Chopin 1st. think of this rondo as horns playing, sounds silly but it does sound like them if you think about it