Choices for extending repertoire

[cloches_de_geneve]

In preparing a recent recital I finished polishing a few works (To give you an idea: Schubert: Sonata, A major D664; Chopin: Etudes op 25 1,8,9; Liszt: Sposalizio). Now I am ready to move on to other works. But to what? Above are some pieces that I was contemplating to learn. Because the time I can devote to practicing is quite limited these days, I would be interested in receiving some feedback on these works from people who are familiar with them. How difficult are they to learn? Which ones are best in terms of investment/satisfaction? I think I can take two at the time max, no more. Any additional suggestions are welcome of course!

[bella musica]

I just learned the Chopin Scherzo No. 1 recently.  Very exciting and lots of fun to play, you can do so much with it.  The only really tricky part is the descending right hand passage in the coda.  The middle section is absolutely sublime.

[cloches_de_geneve]

Thanks for the feedback. I am strongly leaning toward putting the Chopin Scherzo 1 at the top of my list. It seems a bit hard to sightread, but then, it is also rather repetitive, so I guess that learning the first few pages is the most laborious.

[Motrax]

The Scherzo is a good choice - I voted for Pour le Piano, though. I love that one too. The Schumann's also a good choice...

I choose music by whatever ends up on the music stand. It's a fool-proof method.

[bella musica]

Yes, the Scherzo is a bit difficult to sightread, but as you said, there is a lot of repetition.

It goes like:

Fast part A
Fast part B
Fast part A
Fast part B
Fast Part A
Fast part B
Slow part (1 main section that basically repeats 3 times)
Fast part A
Fast part B
Fast part A
Coda

So really, even though the piece is some 10 pages long, you only have to learn 2 or 3 pages of hard stuff, then decide what you want to do to make it different each time it returns.  Just make sure that you NEVER EVER practice wrong notes because then obviously you would have the same mistake cropping up all over the piece.  Not like I think you'd do that anyways. lol

[cloches_de_geneve]

Ok, thanks for the additional advice. Several votes go to Beethoven op. 109., hmm... I wonder how difficult this sonata really is. Reading through it, nothing strikes me as being extremely hard, except for a couple of variations. But I am sure I shall be punished in due course for having said this...In the end, there must be a reason why this sonata is consistently ranked among the 5 most difficult Beethoven sonatas!?

Also, has anyone played Mendelssohn's variations sérieuses? Or Schubert's c minor (D958)?

[amanfang]

I'm working on the Mendelssohn Variations.  I LOVE them.  It's actually been on hold for about a month now as I have a couple other projects to prepare.  I love Perahia's recording of it. 

[cloches_de_geneve]

I am also very fond of the variation sérieuses, when I first heard them on the radio I could not guess the composer (at moments thought it could be Rachmaninov !?) and was totally suprised to learn that it was the "gentle" Mendelssohn who had composed this dark and passionate music. How difficult do you consider them, comparatively speaking, about how long did it take you to read through them, learn them?

[amanfang]

Since they are on hold right now, I currently was up to Var. 8.  I haven't gotten to the really hard stuff yet.  Even now, what I have isn't up to what I would like it to be.  What I have isn't up to performance level yet either.  I find the piece challenging, but I don't think it's out my league by any means.

[bradley]

I love the Beethoven Op 109 - so beautiful. The Scherzo is also great, but if you play it, PLEASE fot the love of everything sacred to music, DON'T play it like that chicky in that talent contest a while back 

[cloches_de_geneve]

Thanks a lot for your suggestions. I like the poll heading toward Beethoven op. 109 and Chopin Scherzo 1. This matches my own preferences -- even though I think that both are on the challenging side of the list. I am just a bit surprised that the Mozart Variations got no vote. My heart opens up whenever I think of this music with its naturally flowing transmutations.

[cloches_de_geneve]

Another question: Has anyone experience in learning / performing: Schubert-Sonata c minor (D958), Beethoven-Sonata op. 109, and Ravel's Sonatine? How do these works compare in terms of technical challenges? Some pianists seem to be very uncomfortable with the 4th mvt of Schubert's sonata (and I've personally seen a pianist getting stuck with it in a concert-performance).