Piano Forum

This is an old thread but I think it makes more sense to continue it, than start a new one.
Wondering if anyone here has worked on this, what their experience was / thoughts are...

I'm working on this piece ...  the suggested metronome is quarter = 120, which I think is too fast.  And I doubt I will be be able to play it (well) at that tempo.  Also wondering if there should be a tempo change at the second theme (arpeggios in rh, melody in left) (measure 78), seems appropriate, especially if the piece was opened with something near 120.

I played this two years ago and can safely say that the piece is no walk in the park. The urtext edition has no metronome mark but is marked as vif which is approximately 130, but is often played much faster and is often better that way. I don't think 120 is too fast but rather too slow if you ask me. The second theme should definitely be more relaxed than the beginning in order to maximise the singing quality in that section. This piece should definitely not be played at an absolute metronomic pace, but with some flexibility. Please note I'm not really talking about rubato like in the romantic repertoire, which is all about stretching the beats but rather leaving some space between the beats, which is sometimes notated in impressionistic music in various ways f.x. double bar lines (for instance in m 78, 136 197, 205 and 228 in the toccata).
I do remember struggling a bit with this piece and do share your pain. If you can't by any means play it in the full tempo, don't. This is a  piece that needs to simmer a bit before you can play it the way you want it. Don't push yourself too much and you will be fine.