Whoever has experienced a major pianist performing this sonata live (the slow “Andante cantabile” middle movement is occasionally played as an encore) knows the grandeur and effect of this C major work, which is only apparently modest in scope. It appeared in print during the summer of 1784, along with the famous sonata in A major (“alla turca”) K. 331 and the lyrical, technically quite challenging sonata in F major K. 332.

The three sonatas were probably composed only shortly before printing...