Erich Wolfgang Korngold composed his Piano Sonata No. 2 in E major, Op. 2, in 1910 when he was 13 years old, two years after completing his unpublished Piano Sonata No. 1. It was premiered the following year in Berlin by Artur Schnabel, who continued to champion the work. Written in the floridly emotional style of the Viennese fin de siècle, the work is in four large movements, all of which demand a virtuoso technique from the pianist. The opening Moderato is strikingly exuberant and harmonically inventive. The following Scherzo, marked Allegro impetuoso, is tremendously difficult, while its central Trio is a parody waltz. The following Largo marked con dolore is set in deeply tragic C minor with a brief climax in C major before returning to the tragic mood of its start. The closing Finale, marked Allegro vivace, is intensely joyful and brings the work to an end with a return to the theme of the opening Moderato.

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