Audition repetoire

[rachfanatic]

Hey guys,

Im applying to do a BMus at the Royal college and im a bit stuck on repetoire to perform at my audition. I was thinking of this program below but I think their is room for improvement.

J.S.Bach - Prelude and fugue in B flat (bk1)
Mozart - Sonata in F
Rachmaninoff - Prelude in C sharp minor, Prelude in B minor
Khatchaturian - Toccata in E flat minor

Comments would be greatly appreciated.

[thierry13]

Your pieces are WAY too easy to enter a royal college.

[Nightscape]

Is it really necessary to be so harsh?

Thierry is right however.... most of the other applicants will be playing more difficult programs.  All of those pieces are also overplayed, so the judges may roll thier eyes when they see this.  I would suggest doing two things - pick slightly harder pieces, and make them pieces that are less played (judges appreciate this, and also they sound harder).

Going along those lines..... might I suggest some alternate programs?

Possibility 1 -
J.S. Bach - Prelude and Fugue in f# minor (book 2)
Mozart - Sonata in a minor
Rachmaninoff - Prelude in g# minor, Prelude in D major
Ravel - Sonatina

This program is a bit harder, and the pieces are still played frequently, but you would have at least a better chance of getting in.

Possibility 2 -
Bach - Prelude and Fugue in Bb minor (book 2)
Beethoven - Sonata in Eb, op.7
Rachmaninoff - Prelude in Bb major, Etude-tableaux in eb minor, op.39 no.5
Debussy - Images, book 2

This program is wayyy harder than your original, but expect your other competitors to be playing selections around this level of difficulty.  Most of these are above my ability, and I'm already in college!  Fortunately, I'm studying composition.... whew...

[thierry13]

Is it really necessary to be so harsh?

Sorry, I didn't meant it to be harsch. I just had nothing else to say than that.

[steinwayguy]

Thierry is right.


Definitely find new rep in all of your categories. Nightscape has some good suggestions, and is getting at the right kind of thing, I think. A harder Prelude and Fugue is definitely necessary, as is a Beethoven sonata. Rachmaninoff Preludes and Etudes woudl be good, but find some of the more obscure ones, not the B-flat, D Major, or G-sharp Minor. Ravel and Debussy are good, but you should also look it other more 20th century composers like Prokofiev and Bartok.

[pooguy77]

Actually, if played well, your Mozart Sonata in F Major can stand on it's own pretty well. It is not overlyplayed anymore, unlike the gazillion beethoven sonatas I keep hearing at auditions. And thank god it is not the pathetique  : .

Defintely change your Bach. If the requirements are general as is "Baroque" maybe a set of two scarlatti sonata's could be a good choice or a suite from Daquin or Rameau and that will perk the judges ear.

Rach is always good, but like mention before, gotta change to lesser known works. Instead of performing the Prelude in C# minor, perform 2 or 3 other pieces from Opus no. 2. There is the Elegy, Melody, but I perfer if you do the Serenade and
 O Pochinelle (spelling). They are effective pieces and not overly out of your playing range.

And defintely change your contemporary pieces. What is not to challenging but is effective when put together is Prokofiev short ten pieces, choose acouple from that. Or his sarcasm suite might work well for your.

[steinwayguy]

Rach is always good, but like mention before, gotta change to lesser known works. Instead of performing the Prelude in C# minor, perform 2 or 3 other pieces from Opus no. 2. There is the Elegy, Melody, but I perfer if you do the Serenade and
 O Pochinelle (spelling). They are effective pieces and not overly out of your playing range.

It's Opus 3 and Polichinelle (I think!).