"Beethoven left altogether five independent Rondos the present one, in C major op. 51 no. 1, was printed in 1797 - nothing more is known about the occasion for which the pieces were written. This was the time when Beethoven was writing more or less one piano sonata after the other. In between, he enjoyed putting pen to paper and creating occasional single pieces.
As the tempo marking Moderato e grazioso already suggests, the Rondo in C major boasts a prevailingly charming character, which it essentially seeks to maintain in the c minor middle section. The piece, which is only moderately difficult, is very suitable for those wishing to approach Beethoven's piano sonatas. "