Notes by Margaret Scialdone

In a radical departure from the sonata form, Beethoven opens his Opus 26 piano sonata with a theme and variations followed by a scherzo, and then the famous “Funeral March on the Death of a Hero” (an orchestral arrangement of which was played at Beethoven’s funeral). After his death, this became one of the most popular of Beethoven’s sonatas. Liszt played it at most of his recitals, and Chopin loved this sonata and likely used it as a model for his own Funeral March.

Here is an exquisite performance by Daniel Barenboim.