The Andante favori was originally intended to be the slow movement of the Sonata No. 21, Op. 53 ‘Waldstein’ until Beethoven was convinced by a friend’s suggestion that the sonata was too long. This elegant and warm piece was often played by Beethoven at society gatherings, earning the nickname favori (favourite). Boris Giltburg’s album of Piano Concerto No. 5 ‘Emperor’ with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vasily Petrenko, and the original piano reduction of the Piano Concerto No. 0, WoO 4, is available on 8.574153.