Prepare for playing with an orchestra

[RealPianist]

What should we prepare if we pianist will play with an orchestra?
And what should we aware if we are playing with orchestra besides right tempo of course, then?

Any suggestion appreciate as soon as possible.

[arensky]

What should we prepare if we pianist will play with an orchestra?
And what should we aware if we are playing with orchestra besides right tempo of course, then?

Any suggestion appreciate as soon as possible.

Sounds like you have a Concerto gig; congratulations! 

1. Start practicing looking where the conductor will be, slightly to your left and up. Although you are the soloist, you will need to watch him at times. Also practice your solo part with all the rests now, and know the orchestral part and your entrances.

2. When you go to the first rehearsal the mass of sound that the orchestra makes may be disconcerting. Don't listen to them, stay focused on your own part or they will throw you off. Soon you will be able to play your part and have an ear tuned to them, and hopefully enjoy what they are doing.

3. If you haven't already have a meeting with the conductor so you can play your part and you can both discuss and hopefully agree on how you want it to go, so this doesn't happen....

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4. Do not directly address the members of the orchestra if you want something to be played a certain way, that is the conductor's turf, and to usurp him and intrude on it would be very rude, pushy and against established protocol.

Can't think of anything else at the moment...enjoy, and keep us posted!

[g_s_223]

Many concerti have musical phrases exchanged between the soloist and members of the orchestra. Listen carefully to these so they are phrased similarly and join and depart company in a neat way. Look for where these "partner" players are placed on the platform: eye contact is the best way to coordinate entrances if you can see them.

[quantum]

Become familiar with the orchestra part.  You should at least be able to hold in your mind while your are playing, any more prominent motif which the orchestra may have over you're part. 

As said before, practice the rests.  Maybe try singing the main tune during the rests so you can start to concieve the unified ideas passed between you and the orchestra. 

At rehearsal, find where the relationship between the ictus of the conductors baton lies and where the musicians find the beat.  This may be dead on, or lag some bit.  It varies a lot from conductor to conductor. 

Make sure you get used to looking up for cues and beats during practice.  You will need to do this with the orchestra, so don't get too tied up in your playing that you forget there is an orchestra that needs to line up their parts to yours. 

Make sure you know the starts of sections, and orchestra cue parts really well.  You should be able to start such passages without looking at your hands because you will need to look at the conductor for the cue. 

Make sure you have a clear way of explaining any interpretational decisions you have to the conductor. 

[RealPianist]

Thanks for all of your information!! it sounds useful, i'll try it.

But, if there is some part that I'm not really memorize it and I should look at the music, is it possible just hearing the music of the orchestra without looking them or looking at the conductor?

Wait for another suggestion please!

[timothy42b]

I've never done this from the piano but I've been on the orchestra side of it.

You really don't have to memorize anything BUT you must learn to watch the conductor with peripheral vision. 

Here's a caution.  The parts you don't have memorized are probably hard.  Pianists are used to slowing down for the hard parts - it is unconscious and you are usually able to convince yourself it is a musical rubato.  The orchestra will not expect this and you may seriously get off.  They will try to follow you, saying naughty words into the stand.  So, moral of the story, when you are looking at the music keep that beat going in your head, and keep matching it with the conductor. 

You should work with a metronome before attempting this with an orchestra.  This helps you learn to match an external beat.   

[g_s_223]

There are Music Minus One CD's of most of the major concerti, which you can play along to: https://www.musicminusone.com/Main/WorksByComposer.asp?Source=BrowseCategories&Type=Classical%20Orchestral%20work

You don't want to get "imprinted" with a single recorded version, but these can be useful to check if you are playing more-or-less at the right tempo etc.