My OSM Competition Program (PLEASE READ)

[viking]

If anyone is entering the OSM (Montreal Symphony Orchestra) competition Piano B class (17 and under) please respond and tell me your program.  To those who aren't in this, or even if you are, please leave your comments and suggestions to my program.

1st round (15 min max and taped)
Bach P&F D major Bk II
Kabalevsky Preludes nos 16 and 24
Etude*

2nd round (45 min max and live)
Classical Sonata**
Complete Romantic piece***
Hamelin Prelude and Fugue

3rd round
Khachaturian or Liszt 2nd concerto

*Any suggestions for my etude?  I was thinking to balance my program I would not choose a russian etude because it would not contrast.  Maybe chopin would be the best.  I was thinking Op.25/10 but I really have no clue.  Tape has to be in by sept 29th. I was also thinking the ligeti Arc-en-ciel or Automne a Varsovie, but maybe these wouldnt be ready by the tape deadline.
**I do know the Clementi Sonata Op.40no2, and the moonlight, but I was thinking maybe to balance with the tremendous difficulty of the Hamelin I would learn a Haydn sonata?  Maybe ill stick with Clementi...
***Now what would be a good romantic piece?  I know the Chopin Heroic Polonaise, Ballade no1, Liszt spanish rhapsody, but I was thinking maybe just a set of chopin nocturnes would be nice.  Maybe schumann or brahms?  Please I need some suggestions.
I would probably compete with the khachaturian concerto if possible, except it isnt on the list of approved concerti.  Im waiting to get it approved, its been a month...
Well everyone, please leave tons of comments and thanks a ton!!

[desordre]

 Dear Viking:
 First of all, very good luck in the studies and in the meeting itself.
 You're running out of time, aren't you? In this case, I think the best to do is choose among the repertory you already know. Pieces that you didn't mastered sounds that way: unsolved. And that's something you really must avoid in a competition. If you already play Clementi's Sonata and Chopin's Ballade, I think that are good choices. About the study, you mentioned things you plan to do: Chopin and Ligeti. I love both, but they require a lot of time to come over.
 Hope it helps! Best wishes.
 

[viking]

Oh by the way, I should have mentioned that the final 2 rounds are in mid november, so I would have enough time to work on a study almost exclusively until the september recording deadline.  Then I could have plenty of time to maybe pick up another romantic work, along with mastering the Hamelin Prelude and Fugue as well as my Concerto. 

[pooguy77]

Oh my, the Khachaturian Concerto...Bravo(I would call them like now, b/c that sucker takes some time to master)

I say, stick with your Clementi Sonata. It's not played enough and is quite a mature work. Instead of burning time learning another one, really nail this Sonata down because it deserves it. For your Romantic piece, I think the Ballade or the Spanish Rhapsody will fair. However, your suggestion of the set of Chopin nocturnes is very classy, of course be sure to choose the more difficult ones. Schumann, maybe try Papillions and Brahms, his entire or 3 mvts. of his Op. 119 (depending on time) or a set of his Ballades. 

If you want to go outside the box alittle, Granados wrote some nice romantic pieces that's not played enough especially by the younger generation,.

Finally for your Etude, perhaps an Alkan etude to throw things off a little.

[viking]

My real problem with the Chopin Ballade is that it is such poor piece to compete with, because everyone has such a different interp.  The Liszt Spanish Rhapsody probably shouldnt be coupled with the Hamelin prelude and fugue; it might be a little bit or overkill.  Im really looking at the chopin nocturnes, and schumann and brahms.  Thanks for all the comments and keep it coming.

[verywellmister]

For a set of Chopin Nocturnes, you could do the 2 Op.27 nocturnes (c# and Db).  They contrast nicely and aren't that easy (though probably nothing compared to Spanish Rhapsody).  Or maybe you could just pick and choose from different opp., such as say, Op.27 no.2 and Op.48 no.1.  You could also learn a scherzo.

Brahms-Go with either 3 intermezzi Op.117, 4 pieces Op.119, or some ballades, op.10.

Schumann-Abegg variations or Schumann Novelette Op.21 no.8

[dnephi]

How about Liszt TE #10?   for your etude...
Brahms Op. 118 No.2 Intermezzo is a favorite among concert pianists.
Sonata, there's a Beethoven Op. 79 sonata. That will contrast well with the Hamelin.

[viking]

My prof just reccomended the Brahms Op. 4 Scherzo.  This is probably doable by mid november.

[jre58591]

My prof just reccomended the Brahms Op. 4 Scherzo.  This is probably doable by mid november.

id say to go for that. no offense, but the hamelin prelude and fugue will kick your ass then rape you. it would even do the same to many professional pianists.