Scarlatti, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Chopin - do they make a good combination?

[jcyl]

Hi friends!  I'm designing a programme for a diploma exam.  I'm an absolute beginner when it comes to designing a recital programme, and would appreciate any feedback from you guys on my work so far.

I have no clues how concert pianists design their programmes for their recitals.  Now that I no longer have a piano teacher, I have to bascially rely on myself.  I have come up with the above combination (Scarlatti, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Chopin) mostly because the pieces with which I'm most comfortable were composed by them.  I've been practising some Mozart sonatas and Chopin ballades and would like to play them for my exam.  I'm trying hard to find a unifying thread that makes the above combination sensible.  All I know is that Chopin admires Mozart and "Mendelssohn admires Chopin" (this latter I'm not sure...). 

I plan to start off with a Scarlatti sonata, followed by a Mozart sonata.  Then, something by Mendelssohn, followed by two Chopin etudes and ending with one of his ballades.  Can anyone please comment on the above structure and perhaps some aspects of programme design that I should watch out for? 

Thanks a lot!

[Rach3]

Sounds like an great program. It has diametric opposites, which is good - contrast is much more important than having a 'unifying theme' or whatnot. Which Scarlatti sonata are you doing? What Mendelssohn?

-Rach3

[jcyl]

I haven't really decided on which Scarlatti sonata to play.  As for Mendelssohn, probably his Andante and Rondo Capriccioso. 

[Waldszenen]

My teacher always told me that the very best programmes are those that are varied and feature much contrast in character. Keep that in mind when you're deciding what pieces to play.