TEN years ago, pianist Peter Serkin made a Beethoven recording that included the “Moonlight” Sonata and the “Appassionata.” Moonlight was evidently on, or in, his mind, since even the agitated and ...

Beethoven thought that his Waldstein and Appassionata sonatas for solo piano were some of the best he ever wrote. History agrees with him: These famous masterpieces have been studied and worshiped by ...