My favourite would have to be either the Pathetique or the Waldstein... just wish I could play the Waldstein...

AAAGH! Too difficult to decide.

Hammerklavier's impressively immense, Pastoral is just so nice and relaxing, Tempest has this non-stop frenetic energy, Appasionata is so - well, full of passion. In the end I plumped for Waldstein as it's the piece that really got me into Beethoven's piano sonatas, and I have fond memories associated with it. One day I will learn it, but I simply couldn't do it justice yet....

Moonlight is always my favourite and i can play little bit of the first movement, but the thrid movement is my favourite.

I voted Appassionata - because she is sitting next to me!!

I like Hammerklavier too!

I love the last movement of the Moonlight, but I can't play it.

I can

I am thinking of playing this in my Diploma.

I'm so jealous!

Well at least now I know it's dip level. I guess I can't get too mad. I'm nowhere near it.

I voted for moonlight - I love that piece!

HAMMERKLAVIER!!!!!!!!!

I like the Pathetique, but Moonlight comes a close second.

I've not even heard some of these though...Moonlight, Pathetique, Hammerklavier...i've heard but im not sure about the others...

well you're missing out - go listen

<tootles off to listen to Beethoven...>

This poll seems to be worryingly confirming the general attitude that Beethoven wrote only two sonatas: 'Pathetique' in C Minor and the 'Moonlight' in C# Minor. Even people taking piano diplomas seem to speak about the list for that as if there were only two of them on there "I was going to play the 'Pathetique' but <insert reason> so I decided to play the Moonlight". Beethoven wrote loads of other sonatas, thirty others to be precise, so I would advocate listening to them. I wonder if those sonatas are really the most popular amongst people who are familiar with them all or whether it's just that they are the only ones that a lot people have heard. If I were a diploma examiner I would definitely ask in the viva what people thought of the other sonatas, were they playing either of these two, and what made them select those over the less-popular ones, to ensure that they really had considered all of them.

Personally I voted for 'Pastorale', Op. 28 although it's very hard to pick a favourite as there are so many good ones!

Play number 12! I didn't and have regretted it since....

Yes - I agree - there are some other wonderful sonatas! I think you're right in that the ones that most people tend to know are the ones with names, but the others are superb too. I don't have a favourite but I have performed the "Tempest" (another named one! but slightly more enigmatic.) on a fair few occasions, plus there are some real gems among the early sonatas.

Wow, that's impressive, and such a lovely piece too: I was listening to it in the car last night in fact . As you say, I'd think it's one of the least well-known ones with names but definitely no lesser than any of the more popular ones.

i personally think the last movement of the Moonlight is harder than the 1st movement of the Waldstein

The Hammerklavier is pretty much (in my opinion) almost like early Liszt!!!

the Pathetique is amazing....... but I think i'd have to go for the moonlight sonata, its just so great!
*runs away to play it again*

The Moonlight is my all-time favourite piece of piano music (to listen to - can't play a note, I'm afraid).

i LOVE moonlight, can play all three movements now!!

haha. loving the waldstein, but never had the guts to try and play it

I spoke to my friend who isn't a forum member but is crazy about Beethoven sonatas and his favourite is Les Adieux!