now playing

start of Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 - "Appassionata"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-87b0V8Fgpw&list=OLAK5uy_kEggyWYCrxEopdQsj_AwdkN28O7Ss2T-o&index=75

start of Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 24 in F Sharp Major, Op. 78 "For Therese"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JjnmxbVkSc&list=OLAK5uy_kEggyWYCrxEopdQsj_AwdkN28O7Ss2T-o&index=78

start of Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op. 79 "Cuckoo"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3I9R6qDxAI&list=OLAK5uy_kEggyWYCrxEopdQsj_AwdkN28O7Ss2T-o&index=80

start of Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-Flat Major, Op. 81a "Les adieux"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV1WviIhrdY&list=OLAK5uy_kEggyWYCrxEopdQsj_AwdkN28O7Ss2T-o&index=82

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kEggyWYCrxEopdQsj_AwdkN28O7Ss2T-o

For starter, introductory sets of the entire piano sonata cycle, this Pollini one is, imo, second only to Kempff's for what I'd recommend, and maybe even first if the person prefers a modern recording. This is because Pollini's Beethoven interpretively occupies a safe and appealing middleground, and is of course perfect on all of the formal and technical aspects. Start with this or Kempff's set, then you go from there searching your ideal cycle once you have some familiarity with these works, and perhaps have an inkling of "maybe I'd like it performed a little more X".

In short, Pollini's always good for a consistent 7-8/10 performance no matter what he does, and I know some people consider his late piano sonatas the ideal 10/10.