The movement uses the scherzo's concluding ritardando bass arpeggio in F major to resolve to B minor, forming a seamless bridge between the rough humour of the scherzo and the doleful meditation of the Arioso, in A minor (though written with six flats instead of seven). Commentators (including and ) have seen the initial recitative and arioso as "operatic". The recitative, whose tempo changes frequently, leads to an extended "arioso dolente", a lament whose initial melodic contour is similar to the opening of the scherzo (although dismisses this as insignificant). The lament is supported by repeated left hand chords.