Which way does a piano face on the stage in a concerto?

[tompilk]

Hi. I was just wondering, when booking tickets for a concert, which way the piano keys face during a concerto. I thought it was keys of the piano to the left of the stage but I would greatly appreciate confirming this, as I want to see the pianists hands (especially because it's Rach 3)!!! Thanks again,
Thomas Pilkington

[thalbergmad]

Yep keys to the left is the norm. This way the piano lid throws the music out into the audience.

Not wishing to bore people with history but this method was started by Jan Ladislav Dussek. He was a very vain man and wanted the audience to see his right profile.

[tompilk]

Thanks for confirming - I will book the tickets now!!!

[Dazzer]

Yep keys to the left is the norm. This way the piano lid throws the music out into the audience.

Not wishing to bore people with history but this method was started by Jan Ladislav Dussek. He was a very vain man and wanted the audience to see his right profile.

i thought it was liszt? oh well someone confirm this ? that way i can correct my facts.

Yes sound projected towards the audience. The next thing you need to look out for is the position of the piano. if its in the middle you'll want a seat just slightly offset from centre, towards the left. Someever sometimes the piano is positioned slightly more to the left so adjust accordingly.

[xvimbi]

i thought it was liszt? oh well someone confirm this ? that way i can correct my facts.

Yes sound projected towards the audience. The next thing you need to look out for is the position of the piano. if its in the middle you'll want a seat just slightly offset from centre, towards the left. Someever sometimes the piano is positioned slightly more to the left so adjust accordingly.

It was Dussek indeed. Liszt was the one who started the concept of solo-piano recitals and playing from memory (someone else now confirm that).

Concerning the orientation of the piano: In cases where the pianist is also the conductor, the piano commonly faces backwards, i.e. the pianists is sitting with the back to the audience. In this case, the lid usually gets taken off completely, so that the pianist can see as many orchestra members as possible.

[m1469]

Liszt was the one who started the concept of solo-piano recitals and playing from memory (someone else now confirm that).

(Actually, Clara Schumann is supposedly the one who started the trend of playing from memory and was active in solo concertizing from her childhood on, though I am not sure she began the concept of solo-piano recitals).

[dinosaurtales]

I thought it was Liszt, too. 

And I also had heard that Clara was the instigator of the piano-only style of concert, as well as memorization! 

[raffyplayspiano]

I thought Liszt initiated the whole piano solo concept, but i think it was dussek who initiated playing to show side profile.  I think there is infor about this in the book, "the great pianists"

raffy

[tompilk]

I booked the tickets for the concert - the box on the left hand side behind the pianist - and gues how much it's costing me: £2.50 ($4)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It gave me a shock too! I might as well go to every concert there is at the place!!!
Tom

[perfect_pitch]

I booked the tickets for the concert - the box on the left hand side behind the pianist - and gues how much it's costing me: £2.50 ($4)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It gave me a shock too! I might as well go to every concert there is at the place!!!
Tom

$4?? YOU BASTARD!!!! I HATE YOU... THEY COST SO BLOODY MUCH OVER HERE!!!!!

probably cause no one in Australia goes to Classical Concerts (well almost none), so they have to hike up they price to make some money.