Recital Program - different aproaches

[storyseller]

So I have one more concert coming up this summer and trying to think of what to play. My repertory is quite extensive but I wanted to discuss some different approaches (Sorry for my English):

1) Competition-  "tour de force" program

a)
Beethoven - Waldstein sonata
Liszt - Ballade no2
-Intermission-
Schumman - Symponic Etudes
Prokofiev - 7th sonata

b)
Schumman - Symponic Etudes
Prokofiev - 7th sonata
-Intermission-
Liszt - Sonata in B

This will be my debut in Slovenia - play what is more "impressive" to get them to ask for me to play again in the future.

2)"Restaurant" program 

Starter: Bach P&F or a partita (Baroque)
Main dish: Beethoven Waldstein or Mozart A minor (classical sonata)
Dessert: Liszt Ballade no2 (romantic)
-Intermission-
Starter:  Mozart fantasie (classical)
Main dish: Prokofiev 7th (modern)
Dessert: Martucci-Verdi "La forza del destino" (paraphrase with some of the most "catchy" tunes)

This is better for the audience, more structured, more diverse...

3) Church Program (since I was told that I will play in a beatiful baroque churh not too big)

Bach: 2-3 P&Fs
Mozart: 2 Fantasie (C minor D minor) and/or the A minor sonata
Ravel: Valses nobles e sentimentals
-Intermission-
Beethoven: Waldstein (exploit the accoustics of the hall)
Liszt: Ballade no2

The first part more intimate and meditative, the second more loud, all expoiting the ressonance in the church.

4)"Summer concert" program

Chopin : some Etude(s) like op25/11-12
Scriabin :some more etudes   
Mozart: Sonata A minor
-Intermission-
Beethoven :Waldstein
Chopin: 2nd scherzo
Martucci- Verdi : " La Forza del destino"

Easy pieces for the audience, not too demanding to their ears, e.g. "favorites". Some virtuosistic but smaller ones to get their attention in the begining, and the rest more "easy going". It will be a summer concert after all, probably attended by turists etc...

5)
All classical (Beethoven and Mozart - 2 sonatas)
-Intermission-
All romantic (Chopin, Liszt, Schumann)

6)
All romantic (as above)
-Intermission-
All 20th century (Prokofiev, Scriabin, Ravel)

There can be like a dozen more "complilations"..... What do you think about these programs? What is your approach when programming? play what you like or think of who will be attending? adjust to the hall and to the occasion or go ahead with what you played more recently?

Which one would you pay to attend and which one do you think more people (e.g. not piano players or "conosieurs") would pay to attend? Would you play the same pieces in a small city like Ljubljana and say in Vienna or London? Do you think that a not too edjucated audience will get bored by a vey long or "demanding" recital like (1b)?etc? 

[tompilk]

personally, i'd go to see 1 a) over all the others...

[teresa_b]

They all look great! I do think you have to tailor your programs somewhat to suit your audience if you want to get more gigs. 

I would not program more than one Bach P&F, as these are wonderful but will be tiring for an audience.  I would probably not begin with Waldstein, as it is not "easy-listening"--you may want to start with a short, less complex piece (Mozart fantasy?) for the audience (and maybe you!) to warm up. 

I would pay to attend any of your choices, but if you have a general non-musician audience it's best to put in a couple of familiar favorites, and then maybe add a less familiar piece you really love.  Best of luck!

Teresa

[storyseller]

Thank you both! Yes I suppose you always have to customize....

Still I consider Waldstein not too demanding for someones ear - especially with the Rondo in the end - people always leave the hall humming the tune whenever  this piece is played in the end.

Still I was hopping for more replies...... Anyone?

[timothy.werts]

I liked the summer program by far the best!

Shows off many skills both technically and musically that draw listeners in.  Also a nice mix of piece lengths, styles, and familiarity.

The tour de force programs are impressive but I don't think consumate musicians who really listen to the performance actually have the energy to truly take in that much music in one setting if they admit it or not.  I look forward to and dread these type of performances.

I think compilation recital usually work best in a lecture/recital.

The church program is nice as well, although Liszt Ballade not my favorite piece but perhaps I have never heard it in the right hands.

How difficult is the Martucci - Verdi love the opera?  I think I will seek out this piece and maybe give it a try.