IYO, who should play Rach 2?

[MelNY]

This is my first post.  Hello to all.  

I want to hear your opinions on what requirements a student should have met before attempting Rach 2 or Chopin's 2nd concerto.  Mainly, what repertoire should the attemptee have under his/her belt?  

I'll divulge a little more about myself after I hear the replies.  Thanks in advance.

Mel

[MelNY]

Anybody?

[thracozaag]

This is my first post.  Hello to all.  

I want to hear your opinions on what requirements a student should have met before attempting Rach 2 or Chopin's 2nd concerto.  Mainly, what repertoire should the attemptee have under his/her belt?  

I'll divulge a little more about myself after I hear the replies.  Thanks in advance.

Mel

 Those are both EXTREMELY difficult concertos.  I personally find the Rach 2nd more difficult to play (the 3rd was obviously harder to learn) than the 3rd.

[eddie92099]

Yes, the second concerto is certainly less pianistic than the third,
Ed

[MelNY]

Agreed.  They are both difficult.  So what kind of prerequisites would you say is needed to actually learn either of those pieces?

[Rach3]

1. For Rach 2, absolute lack of taste, strong desire to play blatant extroverted cheap stuff.

The Chopin is not as difficult imo, and is very beautiful (2nd mov. esp.), granted the orchestration isn't worth a dime, but pianists don't care. I can't create a "repertoire prerequisite" but basically if you play an early late Beethoven sonata well it should be manageable, although you should have tons of Chopin knowledge as well. Rach 2 is significantly harder, don't attempt to massacre it until you are very seasoned and concert-wise, one of the worst pieces for student performances imHo. If you must face it, and are learning one movement for the time, do the 1st, as the 2nd and 3rd are just sickening. Then again I'm hardly the person to ask for advice concerning Rach 2... all the same, go with Chopin.

[MelNY]

I didn't think I was ready for the Rach2, but curious as to what others thought it would take for a student to attempt it.  I do like it, though.  Wouldn't call it cheap, but whatever.

As for the Chopin, I agree that the 2nd movement is exquisite and perhaps my favorite piece of all time.

I am thinking of going to grad school after 4 years of not practicing/studying.  I was working on the Chopin when I finished undergrad and was thinking of picking it back up for an audition.  I don't know.  I'm really rusty and out of practice.   :-/

[eddie92099]

1. For Rach 2, absolute lack of taste, strong desire to play blatant extroverted cheap stuff.

,
Ed

[Roberto]

I think Mozart is more difficult...;~))
And I like more Rach3!
Good luck,
roberto

[pianomexicocity]

Hi Mel!!
I don't know about rachmaninof but i played Chopin's concerto 2 last year, I really love it and it was very enjoyable learning it, technically the most difficult part of course is teh third movement, specially the main theme and of course the end of the third movement with the thirds and the triplets.
Probably you should start with chopin befaore Rachmaninof, the second movement is one of Chopins most beautiful pieces IMo and not that hard the middle part of the first movement is a bit tricky too, if you start learning it let me know and maybe I can give you some tips haha take care