Muzio Clementi saw the piano evolve from relative fragility in the 18th century to its dominance at the beginning of the Romantic era—his influence in developing the instrument’s virtuoso possibilities cannot be overstated. These works embrace this progression, illustrating Clementi’s earlier Classical style in the Sonata, Op. 1, No. 3, introducing more scintillating virtuosity in Op. 8, No. 2, and taking us to the dramatic final sonatas including Op. 50, No. 3, which narrates the story of Dido, Queen of Carthage.