Keep Developing... waay before the development. People will love it. Brahms - Sonata nr 3 Op. 5

I really enjoy the fact that Brahms' work in most of the major idioms pushes their bounds while still abiding by the rules.  His ability to write a sonata is unquestionable, but what makes this sonata truly remarkable in my mind is the fact that while listening, I forget that it's a sonata.  Sure, the formal elements are in place, but, I still find myself asking "what's next?" rather than simply ticking off the pieces of the sonata as they go by.  

That being said, there is one very unsurprising fact about this sonata:  it is written by Brahms.  From the very opening, it is obviously him.  Melodies in octaves, thick chordal writing, bombastic, triumphant themes... juxtaposed against lush melodies, of course.  Hallmarks of Brahms' writing for the piano.  And yet, we are willing to listen to him do these things over and over, because he does them so well, and with a sort of variety.  He gives us himself in writing - has his listeners say 'oh, Hi Brahms' before beginning his transformations - a hard trick to pull off so well over and over without someone eventually saying 'write something different!'