Description
This composition, recognized and cherished for its captivating opening melody, is commonly referred to as Andante favori. It was originally composed as the slow movement of the renowned “Waldstein” Piano Sonata in C major, op. 53. Ferdinand Ries, a student of Beethoven and later his biographer, recounted an incident where a friend expressed the opinion that “the sonata was too lengthy,” which led to a stern reprimand from Beethoven. However, after some time for more thoughtful consideration, Beethoven acknowledged the validity of the critique. Fortunately for contemporary pianists, Beethoven chose not to abandon the piece entirely; instead, he published it as a standalone movement in 1805. The title Andante favori first appeared in a publication released the following year.
