How many sonatas did Ludwig van Beethoven write?

The story behind the answer

Beethoven composed 32 piano sonatas, written from the mid-1790s to 1822 and ending with the visionary two-movement Op. 111. These sonatas chart his evolution from Classical clarity to bold, late-period innovation, earning the nickname “the New Testament” of piano literature. Highlights include the Pathétique, Moonlight, Waldstein, Appassionata, and Hammerklavier.

Memory tip: link Beethoven’s signature numbers—9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, 1 opera, and 32 piano sonatas—“9-5-1-32.” The alternatives can mislead: 21 and 31 are too few, and 50 fits Haydn more than Beethoven. Another hook: his career is often split into 3 periods; the “3–2” of “32” nods to that arc.