I wont make this a poll, because i dont think it is a straight forward yes or no answer, but how do the Beethoven 32 Variations in C minor compare to the middle Beethoven Sonatas like Appasionata, Les adieux and Waldstein?
I would say that they are all of a similar level of difficulty. But I would be hard pressed to rank them - they each contain their own technical obstacles.
Personally, I would say the most approachable would be the Variations. Some are quite difficult, but as I’m learning Schumann Papillons at the moment I can testify to the simplicity of working on a piece which is already split up into workable parts. Sometimes it’s nice to have many small goals as opposed to the seeming endlessness of the usual two or three large movements.