All Chopin program, comments requested.

[iumonito]

Hi all,

I am thinking for next year to do an all Chopin fund-raiser recital.  Here is the tentative program.  I am somewhat clueless about what my audience would tolerate (mostly friends who know I play, but had never heard me play (so fortunate!)).

Waltzes Op. 69
Nocturnes Op. 32
Etudes Op. 25 Nos. 2, 10 and 12.
Polonaise Op. 40 #1
Mazurka Op. 30 #2
Mazurka Op. 33 #2
Etudes Op. 10 Nos. 3, 5, 9, 10.
Ballade Op. 52
Prelude Op. 45
Scherzo Op. 54

Too much?

Encores must remain secret, just as tradition dictates.

[chopiabin]

I'm also doing an all Chopin recital in the spring. Here is the tentative program:

Op.10# 1 and 12, and op. 25# 1 and 12

Intermission

Nocturne op. 48#1
Ballade op. 47


I think your program sounds awesome, but I would pare it down a bit - I would play the etudes as the first half, and then play the Ballade and Scherzo as the second half - that's still around 25 minutes on both sides, maybe a little longer in the first half.

[BoliverAllmon]

why all chopin?

[jehangircama]

can you play one of the sonatas? you could do that instead of some etudes. even now it sounds like a great programme. great choice of composer 

[rohansahai]

after listening to the chopin competition (and as a result, suffering from mozart, beethoven, schubert, rach, liszt etc deficiency) ....i'd want to ask too....why all chopin ? Maybe keep one half as chopin and something really contrasting in the 2nd half ...just my opinion though.

[allchopin]

You are a good man  (or woman?)
Sounds like one hell of a program. 

Since all pieces are by the same composer, I would personally put them in chronological order.  This has a bit more meaning than grouping them this way in a varied program, as Chopin's music often followed what was happening in his life at the time.  It also exhibits his progression of style in this way.  Good luck!

[chopiabin]

Don't you think he/she/it should finish with a "big" piece? I think it might be somewhat anticlimactic if you played them in chronological order - that would mean that he/she/it would play the 4th Ballade - one of the most riveting pieces by Chopin - and then follow it with the op.69 waltzes. I just don't see how you can have a better recital ender than the 4th ballade.

[allchopin]

I agree.

The only solution is to end with the rondo Op. 73 .

[iumonito]

I am not entirely sure that's right.  Op. 69 are posthumous, but I am not sure they were composed after the 4th Scherzo, which I believe is the last composed of the group.  I'll check tonight.

You all are very insightful and this is helpful.  All Chopin just 'cause people like it.  I play lots of Brahms, Grieg and Mozart for myself, but caught myself in a Chopin kind of mood.  I like the idea of the single composer program, as I rather dislike the pastiche you usually get mixing Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Ravel and Ginastera in one program.  Is like having a first course of Thai, second of French, third of Indian, fourth of Tex-Mex and some tiramisu for desert.

Keep suggesting!  I may take heed and light it up a bit.  My wife perennially tells me that the programs I embark on are too long.

Cheers,
Mr. IUmonito.

p.s.  I have no Chopin sonatas in repertoire.  Maybe some day. 

[phil13]

Hi all,

I am thinking for next year to do an all Chopin fund-raiser recital.  Here is the tentative program.  I am somewhat clueless about what my audience would tolerate (mostly friends who know I play, but had never heard me play (so fortunate!)).

Waltzes Op. 69
Nocturnes Op. 32
Etudes Op. 25 Nos. 2, 10 and 12.
Polonaise Op. 40 #1
Mazurka Op. 30 #2
Mazurka Op. 33 #2
Etudes Op. 10 Nos. 3, 5, 9, 10.
Ballade Op. 52
Prelude Op. 45
Scherzo Op. 54

Too much?

Encores must remain secret, just as tradition dictates.

I agree, excellent choice of composer!

I would arrange it a little differently, though:

Polonaise Op.40 No.1
Waltz Op.69 No.2 (omit the first one)
Etudes Op. 10, Nos. 3, 5, 10 (omit No.9)
Etudes Op.25, Nos. 2, 10, 12

Intermission

Prelude, Op.45
Nocturne Op.32 No.2 (omit the first one)
Scherzo Op.54
Ballade Op.52

Omit the Mazurkas, since you don't really need them for this programme. This way, you start out with a bang in the first half, and have a brief moment of simplicity (the waltz) before jumping into the etudes. In the second half, you start with the mystifying prelude as a counterweight to the Polonaise, have another breather (the Nocturne) before jumping into the final pieces, and you end with the Ballade, which is the best finale piece here.

I would choose 2 Chopin encores, one that reflects the tranquility of some of the program, and a second one that thrills the audience (good example: Chopin Prelude Op.28 No.6 in B minor followed by Prelude Op.28 No.24 in D minor)

Anyways, that's what I would do.

Phil

[chopiabin]

Wow. I agree with you completely.

[iumonito]

OK, what about cutting it down like this:

Nocturnes Op. 32
Mazurka Op. 30 #2
Mazurka Op. 33 #2
Etudes Op. 10 Nos. 3, 5
Ballade Op. 52
Waltzes Op. 69
Scherzo Op. 54

Still too much?

I like this program a little less, but it seems less moody.  I want to make a point of playing the two nocturnes and the two waltzes together, although it is not lost on me that I am not playing the mazurkas within their original grouping.

Hey and Chopinabin, good luck.  I like your project too!

[demented cow]

Nocturnes Op. 32
Mazurka Op. 30 #2
Mazurka Op. 33 #2
Etudes Op. 10 Nos. 3, 5
Ballade Op. 52
Waltzes Op. 69
Scherzo Op. 54

If you are playing more for people who don't normally like classical piano music, I wonder if you wouldn't be better served by giving them maybe one more fast and loud piece and taking out one of the introspective/harmless ones (though maybe you could solve that problem by opening a can of fury in the encore). Many people who go to rock concerts like to see musicians going psycho on their instruments, so by all means do more of that if it is in accord with your artistic personality.
Also: although the fourth scherzo is Chopin at his best, esp. the melody in the middle section, my experience was that it took longer to like this piece than the 2nd or 3rd scherzos. It's likely that people not used to this type of music will be losing concentration by the time you start the scherzo. If they were able to concentrate through the 4th ballade, they would (should?) be drained, and not ready for another long, mostly introspective piece). If you have scherzos 1, 2 or 3 or the 1st ballade in your repertoire, it may be better to end on that.

[lava]

All chopin is great! wish i could attend it.

I think you should limit the program to 2 times 20 minutes max. This is because of the fact you're playing for people who are not used to listening to classical piano music, and because you're focusing on just one composer. Plus 1 or 2 encores will be more than enough for most people.

So cut your program, although it will hurt 

Choose the pieces that you know best, not too technical, but what people like: pieces that have warm harmony and melody, or that are well known.  (f.i. the revolutionary etude, fantasy impromptu, a beautiful nocturne).

Better to choose mainly shorter pieces (3-5 minutes). This is what people are used to. The ballade is beautiful but a long piece (about 12 minutes), it will probably start to bore after a while and make the public nervous. I have experienced that, and it made me nervous too.

Personally i would omit mazurka's. The etudes are great so keep them.

choose 2 nocturnes, 1 waltz, 3 etudes
1 ballade
Prelude Op. 45 is great
maybe some other preludes you like

2 encores: etude op 25 nr 1 and some wild pianistic piece

In january I played some chopin for my co-workers (people who usually don't like classical music, but they liked it). Two recordings:
op. 10 nr 9 in f minor
nouvelle etude in f minor

good luck!

[iumonito]

This is still very helpful.  Thank you all.

On the subject of playing down to the audience level, I think I would rather play up.  Music is such a powerful thing that I feel no need to simplify it for my audience.  I gave you the miss impression that the people attending might not be knowledgeable about music, which is not necessarily true; most of them just have nto heard me play, but go to concerts and listen to discs regularly.

But even if mine was the very first time they heard Chopin, I still think I should play to the most exquisite level I can and let the music make a connection with the audience in spite of anything I do.

I think this is the final pair down:

Nocturnes Op. 32
Ballade Op. 52
Waltzes Op. 69
Scherzo Op. 54

That will leave me with a barrage of encores.   

Thanks.  Feel free to keep posting comments, but I think this is it.  Thanks!

p.s. lava, I will record it and post the individual pieces in the forum.  This will happen likely in August next year.

[librisgeek]

Whatever you do, don't loose the Op. 32 nocturnes. 

[ahmedito]

Why do monothematic recitals? In my opinion, unless you are incredibly amazing at one single part of the repertoire, they WILL get a bit boring by the middle. Unless youre someone really really really amazing at Chopin.

I can think of very few pianists that can do this kind of program and actually make you want more of the same.


(Like Tureck with Bach, after each piece youre left saying PLEASE, PLEASE!!! another Bach Suite).

In most cases you'll be left thinking (What, Bach again?!!!)

[lava]

Your new program is nice.

p.s. lava, I will record it and post the individual pieces in the forum. This will happen likely in August next year.

I can't wait!

[kaiwin]

Do the fantasie impromptu

Cannot be complete with out it :-D

[jehangircama]

if you've done the ballade, you could try the fatasie in F minor, people would love that. or maybe next time, if you've decided

[superstition2]

How about playing the Andante (the first movement) of the 2nd Scriabin sonata? Another option is the Scriabin B minor Fantasy. Such early Scriabin pieces meld well with a Chopin-heavy program, while also providing flavor.

[pianowelsh]

Do te tarentella as an encore!!!!

[phil13]

Do te tarentella as an encore!!!!

Excellent idea!

That would go nicely with the bigger recital I suggested, too. The Tartanella is SO cool!

Phil

[lava]

yeah the Tarantella is super cool   

Strange that it's quite unknown and rarely played.

I played it yesterday a couple of times (fast and quite perfect) and it gave me such a thrill. 

If played well (almost no pedal!!) people will love it and remember the lively melody. But one advice: master it of leave it. It is a great encore after all the heavy stuff.

Lava.

[ramseytheii]

Don't you think he/she/it should finish with a "big" piece?

Mark Hambourg had this interesting bit to say about programming,
"In the good drama the climax is not reserved for the last curtain but usually comes at some previous moment."

Not very quotable I agree, but the idea is striking.  How many times do you plan your competition or recital programs ending with Mephisto instaed of Rachmaninoff-Corelli, just because Rachmaninoff ends softly?   "Time was when it seemed the custom to end the program with a kind of musical shock which consisted of bringing forward the player's most brilliant exhibition of bravura work, his tour de force as it were.  This, however, is not altogether an artistic arrangement."
"The artist who barters his art for easy ways to get applause must inevitably fall in the opinion of thinking people."

Walter Ramsey

[moi_not_toi]

I would say to mix them up so that mazurka doesn't follow mazurka and waltz doesn't follow waltz.
But don't make it into a pattern.
And also (obviously) make sure that 2 quiet pieces don't follow each other.

[Motrax]

How'd the recital go, iumonito?

(You'll notice that this topic is a year old )

[iumonito]

How'd the recital go, iumonito?

(You'll notice that this topic is a year old )

Long time no talk.  I ended up losing short-interest in the Chopin program, but i am playing an all Debussy program this Friday, July 14, 7:30 pm at University United Methodist Church, across the street from University of Maryland on College Drive.

Arabesques 1 & 2, Girl with flaxen hair, Danse, Bruyere, Suite Bergamasque and L'Isle Joyeuse.  Should be fun.  Come over and have some ice cream.

[moi_not_toi]

Long time no talk.  I ended up losing short-interest in the Chopin program, but i am playing an all Debussy program this Friday, July 14, 7:30 pm at University United Methodist Church, across the street from University of Maryland on College Drive.

Arabesques 1 & 2, Girl with flaxen hair, Danse, Bruyere, Suite Bergamasque and L'Isle Joyeuse.  Should be fun.  Come over and have some ice cream.

damn
it's in New England.

Doesn't anyone know that Georgia exists?

[iumonito]

How'd the recital go, iumonito?

(You'll notice that this topic is a year old )

OK, Short report on the recital.  Nobody died, so it went reasonably well.  The audience, albeit small, seems to have enjoyed it and were asking for another recital soon, which is always a nice thing to say to an amateur pianist.

I am not done with this program, but next thing you should see about it will be in the recording room.

Ciao.