concerto competition choice

[jamie0168]

I've narrowed my choices down to the Grieg or Saint Saens 2. Although I like the SS better as a piece itself, I'm wondering if it is "showy" enough to win. It's going to be tough competition with instruments from every family, esp. trombones.
I also only get to play one mvmt.
Which one do you think has a better chance of winning? Which mvmt. of which concerto do you think I should play? Any input is appreciated.

[crazy for ivan moravec]

SS 2nd movement. IMO, this is the most impressive among the 3 movements and beautiful melodies will get stuck in the jury's heads. although the 3rd isn't bad at all... in fact. those octaves can be showy. in concerto competitions, musicality is a given already. what one has to work on is the art of performing on stage. get your personality across the audience and let it shout to the top of its lungs. this concerto is good.

the grieg is out of question for me. besides, if in the competition you are playing with a 2nd piano, the grieg can sound really awfully noisy... has anyone noticed that? it only sounds good with orchestra. and if you have pianist jurors, the grieg can turn them off...

IMO only.

[bennom]

SS 2nd movement. IMO, this is the most impressive among the 3 movements and beautiful melodies will get stuck in the jury's heads. although the 3rd isn't bad at all... in fact. those octaves can be showy. in concerto competitions, musicality is a given already. what one has to work on is the art of performing on stage. get your personality across the audience and let it shout to the top of its lungs. this concerto is good.

the grieg is out of question for me. besides, if in the competition you are playing with a 2nd piano, the grieg can sound really awfully noisy... has anyone noticed that? it only sounds good with orchestra. and if you have pianist jurors, the grieg can turn them off...

IMO only.

I agree! Go for the SS. Peronally, I would choose the first mvt, since I find it the most outliving, solistic and passionate of them all. The 2nd is better music, and a delightfully entertaining show-off piece, but, it could make you look "shallow"...

[nicco]

Go for the grieg 3rd movement. (Im norwegian )

[panic]

haha, I read in some travel guidebook that the Grieg concerto is far and away the most celebrated national composition within Norwegian culture and if so, that's kinda sad, no offense to you nicco . (There's gotta be better stuff by Sinding, Tfeitt, etc - c'mon).

[bennom]

haha, I read in some travel guidebook that the Grieg concerto is far and away the most celebrated national composition within Norwegian culture and if so, that's kinda sad, no offense to you nicco . (There's gotta be better stuff by Sinding, Tfeitt, etc - c'mon).

The Grieg concerto is far better than any PC from outside the german, french or russian sphere. The anglosaxian PCs really suck...

[jamie0168]

ok, I didn't mean for this to turn into a Grieg argument.
I'm just looking for a winning concerto.

[jehangircama]

go with the SS2 its a great piece

[franzliszt2]

I think SS, as Grieg is played a lot (and rightfully so), but that means very easy to criticise. Aslo remeber it is not the most impressive pievethat wins, its the most impressive playing. Last 2 competitions I watched were Leeds international few yrs ago,. and london international last yr.

 Leeds has Tchaickovsky concerto, Rach paganini rhap, Beethoven 4, Rach 2.

most impressive.... Tchaikovsky, Rach, but.... Beethoven 4won, and its by far not the most impressive.

London competition was Both liszt concertos and Beethoven 5
Beetohoven won again, and again not the most "impressive"

Dont look at the "showyness", think about which one you play best

[moose_opus_28]

I'd go with SS 1st movement.  It has the most depth, I think.  But really, go with whatever you're into the most.  What matters is your playing.  I love the Grieg 3rd movement so much though...