It was first performed by Oskar Merikanto in Helsinki on 17 April 1895. Ilmari Hannikainen, a prominent Finnish composer, said "the F major Piano sonata... a splendid work. Fresh, refreshing and full of life. … I have sometimes heard people mention the orchestral tone of the sonata (the left-hand tremolos) … In my opinion the sonata shows Sibelian piano style at its most genuine. There is no question of there being any tremolos in it. Everything that looks like that is really to be played in quavers or semi-quavers, in the manner of, say, Beethoven's piano sonatas. … When it is well and carefully rehearsed - and performed - the F major sonata is truly a virtuoso piece."

Date of composition 1893
Premiered 1895, April 17th in Helsinki, Finland
First published 1906
Type Sonata
Tonality F Major
Catalogue Op. 12
Instruments Piano
Links
Autotranslations beta Jean Sibelius: Sonate pour piano en fa majeur, Op. 12
Jean Sibelius: Sonata per pianoforte in fa maggiore, Op. 12
Jean Sibelius: Sonate für Klavier F-dur, Op. 12