Help/comments/criticisms for my ATCL Recital programme

[erickang]

Hi.
I am about to set out for the impossible task of preparing myself for an ATCL exam in about 4 months time. (And for about next 4 weeks, my right arm will be in a cast - fractured my wrist playing rugby!)
And I have never had a teacher in my life, and is unlikely that I will for these 4 months, except for maybe a couple of tweaking sessions.
And I have never taken any of these exams before.
(There is a reason why I chose the word impossible...)

Firstly, I would just like to say that I used to practise quite hard out, but academics took over my interests and time, and so I am doing this as sort of a final, closure thing before I go to college so that I at least have some sort of qualification from my music. (Of course, I'll remain a loyal music lover, but I'll find it difficult to make time for practices after the exam)
So when advising me about my programme, please keep in mind that my future repertoire or any future considerations are really not critical.

ATCL Recital needs the programme to last 30 to 35 minutes, and it lets me build up my own programme.
I am definitely playing the greatly underrated (IMHO) sonata no.1 in C minor by Chopin, which lasts about 20 minutes. (maybe a bit longer)
Although of course there are Chopin pieces that I like more than this, and some of which I already know how to play, I just think that this piece is so undervalued by people, I just wanna at least acknowledge its existence unlike heaps of the pianists.
So I need to build my programme around this.
I was thinking I could have Brahms Op.118 No.2 in A major after this.
Now I need the opening first piece and the closing last piece.
I really like Chopin and Brahms, so I thought about the Revolutionary and Hungarian Dance No.1 as possibilities as the closing piece, because I want something in minor key and quite impressive/passionate/strong finish.
But these can be quite easily changed.
As for the opening, I've considered a P&F, e.g. No.5 or 12 from Book II or Rachmaninov prelude in G minor, Op.23 No.5.
But again, I am really not sure about this either.
I just want some sort of prelude-esque piece, preferrably in minor key, that's not too hard, and is good to start my programme with.
Just one important thing is that I am pretty bad at quite modern pieces, for many reasons including my somewhat dislike for them.
Some Debussy and Rachmaninov can be good, but Scriabin, Bartok, Shostakovich, etc are not my forte/taste.

So please give me some ideas as to what I should do here.
Any comments/criticisms/remarks/advice will be most helpful.
Thank you.

[frederic]

Come on guys! Give this guy some help! He's desperate here! I bet none of you will have the guts to do what he's about to do. 4 months man! You gotta admire that!
Anyways...you go erickang....reach for the stars! 

[Skeptopotamus]

Chopin Sonata No. 1
Mozart 9 Variations on a Minuet by Duport K. 573
Albeniz "Evocation" from Iberia
Rachmaninov Etudes Tableaux Op. 33 No. 8



There yah go.  That hits just about everything you could possibly want.

[erickang]

Thanks for that.
I am listening to the pieces you suggested.
Any more ideas will be good though.

[jehangircama]

Beethoven 32 variations in C minor/sonata no.5 op10 no.1 in C minor
Chopin Fantasie impromptu
Rachmaninov preludes no.s 5 and 10 op32

that's what I'm planning for next year's ATCL... best of luck. are you trying the normal ATCL or the recital one?

[erickang]

I am doing recital.
Don't have to do any of the technical stuff.

[erickang]

Oh, by the way, does anyone recommend a particular edition for Chopin sonatas?
Like with good useful performance advice and accurate and stuff?

[grazioso]

I don't really know the formta of the ATCL but i think your programme does need a bit more contrast. it might be nice to play a classical piece so that you get more contrast. Stick something light in to give the examiner a break!

[janne p.]

Mozart's Fantasy in C minor, KV. 475 for starters and Rachmaninoff's Prelude in A minor, Op. 32 no. 8 for enders. :-)

This programme would also be chronoligal. (Me like symmetry.)

[erickang]

That would be a good programme, except for that then the total time goes up to like 45 minutes, which is too long.
Thanks for the suggestions anyway.
It's really good.