Szymanowski´s Piano Sonata No. 2 in A major op. 21 was written during the years 191011. This monumental work consists of two parts: the first part (Allegro assai. Molto appassionato) maintains the traditional form of sonata allegro whereas the second part (Tema. Allegretto tranquillo. Grazioso) brings a carefully crafted combination of the theme with eight variations, and a fourpart fugue which crowns the whole work. After Rubinstein, for many years the only virtuoso to include this work in his regular repertory was Sviatoslav Richter. The composer himself thought that his Sonata No. 2 would present the pianist with a challenge comparable to Beethoven’s Hammerklavier sonata op. 106, or to Liszt’s Transcendental Etudes: “I don’t know who will be playing all that, because it’s long and devilishly difficult”.

Well, here’s one formidable answer to Szymanowski's doubts.
Recorded live, Munich 29 April 2002.