Recital (again-sorry)

[jehangircama]

Hi
I am now thinking of preparing a programme for a performance some time down the line to give myself a decent set of pieces to try and complete within a given time frame. Unless i do this none of these pieces will ever finish. here's what i had in mind (i've worked on most of these pieces to various degrees):

BACH                    : Prelude and Fugue Bk.1 No.21 in B flat major

BEETHOVEN       : Sonata No. 23 in F minor op.57  (Appasionata)

LISZT                    : Concert etude No. 3 Unsospiro

INTERMISSION

CHOPIN               : Polonaise “Military” in A major op.40

                             : Impromptu in C sharp minor op.66

                             : Etude op.10 No. 3 in E major

SCHUBERT         : Impromptu in A flat major op.90 No.4

RACHMANINOFF: Prelude in B minor op.32 No.10
 
                             : Prelude in G minor op.23 No. 5

LISZT                   : Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C sharp minor


Encore : LISZT/ALIABEV: Nightingale
 
how does it look on the whole? i think it'll come to about 90-100 minutes overall.
any thoughts would be appreciated.
thanks

[franzliszt2]

Looks great!! I would pay to see it 

I can tell you now that people will say... pieces are overplayed, like the military polonaise

impromptu

but sooooo what, its all great music!! 

[jehangircama]

thanks, i hope i can finish it fast. but i'm sure it'll take at least 2 yrs or so

[kreso]

Beautifull program, the only thing I would change is that Liszt is not so good after Appassionata ending. I would but Liszt maybe before Beeth. or somewhere in the second half (better that). Good luck!!

[donjuan]

Everything's great except the schubert impromptu.  That's a good study piece, but not for public performance, imo.

[jehangircama]

even i was thinking its a bit anticlimatic to have unsospiro after appasionata. but i was worried about chronology. i'll have to see about that. instead of the schubert what do you suggest, donjuan? i have ample time to make changes. but preferably romantic and not chopin or liszt.

[mike_lang]

even i was thinking its a bit anticlimatic to have unsospiro after appasionata. but i was worried about chronology. i'll have to see about that. instead of the schubert what do you suggest, donjuan? i have ample time to make changes. but preferably romantic and not chopin or liszt.

Anticlimactic?  There were ample climaxes in Appassionata.  It will be a stark contrast, and well warranted by that point.  Besides, bVI will have a nice effect following the thunderous cadence in f minor.  I would keep the Liszt.

Best,
Michael

[kriskicksass]

BACH                    : Prelude and Fugue Bk.1 No.21 in B flat major

*pause*

CHOPIN:               : Etude op.10 No. 3 in E major

RACH                    : Prelude in G minor op.23 No. 5

*pause*

BEETHOVEN       : Sonata No. 23 in F minor op.57  (Appasionata)

INTERMISSION

CHOPIN               : Impromptu in C sharp minor op.66

                           : Polonaise “Military” in A major op.40 

RACHMANINOFF   : Prelude in B minor op.32 No.10

*pause*

LISZT                  : Concert etude No. 3 Unsospiro

LISZT                  : Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C sharp minor


Encore : LISZT/ALIABEV: Nightingale


Try that on for size. Normally I don't like the idea of starting with Bach because it needs a warmed-up audience to be fully appreciated, but I can't really think of anything else you listed that could be a progran opener. It's a flashy enough prelude to wake up the audience anyways, you'll just have to be sure to keep the fugue very clear for the audience, as it's kinda hard to hear the details in anyways.

Oh, and by pause I mean a break between the pieces. The paired pieces can be played in succession, almost like movements of a sonata. There are two ways to deal with this. Either walk out and re-enter at the pauses or just do your best to minimize the applause when there shouldn't be any. Leaving a single space between the paired pieces and a double space between the sets will make this a little clearer for the audience, too.

[donjuan]

instead of the schubert what do you suggest, donjuan? i have ample time to make changes. but preferably romantic and not chopin or liszt.

Your program already has loads of razzle-dazzle.  Maybe play something very likable and easy on you, like Dvorak's Humoresque or Schumann's Traumerai.

But play one of these after Fantasy Impromptu.  So maybe switch positions of the tristesse chopin etude and fantasy impromptu, before playing something lighter.

[bearzinthehood]

Everything's great except the schubert impromptu.  That's a good study piece, but not for public performance, imo.

No?  It's beautiful IMO, along with the rest of Op.90. 

[pianoperfmajor]

That is a MONSTER program.  No one seems to have commented on that.  At the very least, it's a bigger, longer program than most doctoral students would give.  Even most pros don't give programs quite that massive.  I think you're shootin for the stars man.  But if you make it, hell I'll be the first to congratulate you.

[jehangircama]

thanks for the replies. so it isn't necessary to play in chronological order, it seems. i'm slowly making progress with the appasionata just now, hopefully the programme will shape up in time.
thanks again
jehangir

[tds]

how 'bout:


BACH                    : Prelude and Fugue Bk.1 No.21 in B flat major

SCHUBERT            : Impromptu in A flat major op.90 No.4

CHOPIN                : Etude op.10 No. 3 in E major
                             : Fantasie Impromptu

LISZT/ALIABEV      : Nightingale
LISZT                    : Concert etude No. 3 Unsospiro
                             : Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C sharp minor


INTERMISSION


RACHMANINOFF   : Prelude in B minor op.32 No.10
                            : Prelude in G minor op.23 No. 5

BEETHOVEN         : Sonata No. 23 in F minor op.57  (Appasionata)


encore:

CHOPIN                : Polonaise “Military” in A major op.40


no doubt, appasionata is the big cheese, so tis prolly appropriate to place it at the end of the 2nd half.

tds




 

[kreso]

how 'bout:


BACH                    : Prelude and Fugue Bk.1 No.21 in B flat major

SCHUBERT            : Impromptu in A flat major op.90 No.4

CHOPIN                : Etude op.10 No. 3 in E major
                             : Fantasie Impromptu

LISZT/ALIABEV      : Nightingale
LISZT                    : Concert etude No. 3 Unsospiro
                             : Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C sharp minor


INTERMISSION


RACHMANINOFF   : Prelude in B minor op.32 No.10
                            : Prelude in G minor op.23 No. 5

BEETHOVEN         : Sonata No. 23 in F minor op.57  (Appasionata)


encore:

CHOPIN                : Polonaise “Military” in A major op.40


no doubt, appasionata is the big cheese, so tis prolly appropriate to place it at the end of the 2nd half.

tds




 

TDS, I like this order of the programm-I think it is good balanced!

[jehangircama]

appasionata at the end? i'm not too sure, i think the rhapsody would be nicer, a happy ending. and for me it would be more dangerous to play a beethoven piece at the end, you can't pedal much so its likely something might smudge,etc. but lets see, i'll think about it. depends on which pieces shape up best (and my stamina also, this would be my first solo concert, if and when it occurs)

[hartmut]

the more people answering, the more opinions you read, the more confused you'll be, right?

In the end it's your decision because it's your recital, it's your musical developement, it's your show.
You are the world, you are the performer, you are the audience, you are god, you are the devil.
If you believe in your show the audience will love you, no matter what you play or in which order you do it!

By the way: the best way to get unique is to establish new things. (e.g. playing your works in an order no one else would)

[jehangircama]

then i should start with the encore and end with the bach
but let's see there's a loong way to go before this gets ready. actually that's been worrying me a bit. i intend to be a decent amateur pianist. i don't have any dreams of becoming a professional, i doubt i could manage it. but is it usual for amateur pianists to take 2-3 yrs prep for such a recital? i'm almost 18 now. but i always thought (especially after joining this forum) that pianists, even amateurs, perform regularly programmes like this after only a month or so's prep (i mean, they'll probably have established repertoire so they can do this). i know that this time its imposs for me to rush this programme coz my technique requires heaps and heaps of work, especially for the liszt pieces. but is it the norm for most pianists ( like those on this forum) who are not professionals to have an established repertoire that they can perform on short notice? i mean, how long would you all take to prepare this programme for a recital?

[mike_lang]

then i should start with the encore and end with the bach
but let's see there's a loong way to go before this gets ready. actually that's been worrying me a bit. i intend to be a decent amateur pianist. i don't have any dreams of becoming a professional, i doubt i could manage it. but is it usual for amateur pianists to take 2-3 yrs prep for such a recital? i'm almost 18 now. but i always thought (especially after joining this forum) that pianists, even amateurs, perform regularly programmes like this after only a month or so's prep (i mean, they'll probably have established repertoire so they can do this). i know that this time its imposs for me to rush this programme coz my technique requires heaps and heaps of work, especially for the liszt pieces. but is it the norm for most pianists ( like those on this forum) who are not professionals to have an established repertoire that they can perform on short notice? i mean, how long would you all take to prepare this programme for a recital?

Look, I have friends that have put entire recital programs together in 10 days, and I know people who will not play pieces in public until they've been working on them for at least a year.  There is not a usual time frame; it is how quickly you learn, and how quickly you absorb.  I listened to an interview with Andre Watts, who said "I can learn very quickly.  I used to learn a concerto every year when I was younger, but now I like to take my time.  I don't tell people when I am learning a piece, because I do not want a deadline."  It is a matter of when you feel comfortable doing a recital, not when other people do.  Just play when you're ready (especially in the case that you do not intend to be a professional and are doing this for your enjoyment).

Best,
Michael

[bach-liszt]

I like the program.  If it were me, I would probably delete one of the works and put a much easier, more relaxing selection ("To A Wild Rose, by MacDowell) to "refresh" the audience a little.  Simple music like this has merit just like the bigger works.

[jehangircama]

thanks for the reply michael, as you suggested, i'll play when i'm absolutely ready myself.
bach-liszt, what other pieces of say 5-6 mins length do you suggest. coz if any piece goes it will probably be either the schubert or the 10/3. any ideas?

[bach-liszt]

thanks for the reply michael, as you suggested, i'll play when i'm absolutely ready myself.
bach-liszt, what other pieces of say 5-6 mins length do you suggest. coz if any piece goes it will probably be either the schubert or the 10/3. any ideas?

Hmm, since I have been playing them recently, the Woodland Sketches by MacDowell.  There needs to be some release from the tension -- both for pianist and audience! 

All the best!

[bearzinthehood]

thanks for the reply michael, as you suggested, i'll play when i'm absolutely ready myself.
bach-liszt, what other pieces of say 5-6 mins length do you suggest. coz if any piece goes it will probably be either the schubert or the 10/3. any ideas?

You would drop those and keep FI?   

[jehangircama]

thanks bach-liszt, i'll have a look

bearzinthehood, i'll have to keep FI coz i've been playing it for quite some time and its probably in the best shape just now compared to any of the others.

[alejo_90]

That is a MONSTER program.  No one seems to have commented on that.  At the very least, it's a bigger, longer program than most doctoral students would give.  Even most pros don't give programs quite that massive.  I think you're shootin for the stars man.  But if you make it, hell I'll be the first to congratulate you.

You think so ? Just look at this one : https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,16930.0.html

Best
Alex