first concert

[jehangircama]

Ok, so I may finally get around to doing my first solo recital at some point in the near future. I'm in the final year of my physics course at university, so after that before my masters i may have a couple of months off so i will most probably do the recital. i was thinking of a playing time of abt 80-90 minutes with a 10 min intermission. i'm nowhere near the level of some of the chaps here, so the programme i'm thinking of is as follows:

Mozart Sonata in A KV 331 (I know its overplayed, but I've actually never heard it live in a concert,and I've played it a few years back, and it just requires a bit of cleaning up)  (23-24 min)

Beethoven Sonata - here I've got 2 choices- I did the moonlight for an exam in december, so that's more or less ready. I've done les adieux after that, not completed and it still has a fair amt of work left, but its quite possible for me to do given that i have time.  (~16 min)

Chopin fantasie impromptu (again overplayed, but its a piece I'm very comfortable with- did it for the exam and have been playing it quite a few yrs)  (~5:15)

-------------------intermission------------------------

Chopin Polonaise in A flat Op. 53 (I've just started working on this properly, and its coming into the hands quite nicely, i should be able to finish it in a bit) (~7 min)

Now another choice- Either 3 Rach preludes- op 32 no.5, op.32 no.10, op.3 no2 (i've worked on all these to some degree)
 or Albeniz- Espana (I haven't worked on this except for the Tango, but it's not too difficult, its something a bit different, and its a bit lighter than the other stuff) (~14 min, i think)

Brahms intermezzo in A op 118 no.2 -did for my exam, and i really like the piece (~6 min)

Liszt HR 2- the big finish- am finally making headway with this in terms of technique and its helping with other pieces a lot. i think within a few months i could get it done, its a few patches that require work still, but since i've looked at it a few times, i've memorized the notes more or less, and that helps. (~8:30)

i want to play a programme that's comfortable for me, and don't want to try to outdo myself. any suggestions on the choice of pieces, would you make any changes? and what about the options, espana vs rach, moonlight vs les adieux? i've done a couple of back p&fs,bk 1 no. 3 in C# and no. 21 in Bflat- but i really don't want to open with bach, and i can't think of where else it can fit in. for an encore i thought maybe minute waltz, or the posthumous chopin nocturne in c# minor. i had earlier posted something like this, with great hopes of playing the appasionata, and liszt-aliabieff's the nightingale as an encore, but that's not going to happen in the given time frame- i have exams, tests and admissions to think of too!

[cmg]

Your program sounds fine.  With all your other responsibilities, I'd recommend playing works that are already in your hands.  That first recital can be unnerving so I'd go with stuff that I could play in my sleep.

Best of luck. 

[dan101]

I also think the program is fine, although the Albeniz would be my choice for the first work after the intermission. Good luck.

[j.s. bach the 534th]

for the Beethoven sonata, I think because it is your first recital, you should do the Moonlight since you have it down very well.

[jehangircama]

thanks for the replies. i'll give it a bit more time and then finalize.

[jehangircama]

ok, so D-day is 17th Sept. 2009. i got a Steinway to play on! Final programme:

Bach P&F in Bb bwv 866, bk1

Mozart Sonata in A K.331

Chopin polonaise in A op 40 no.1
-------intermission--------

Chopin Fantaisie Impromptu op 66

Brahms intermezzo in A, op.118 no.2

Beethoven sonata no. 23 in F minor op 57 (Appassionata)
 
encore: Albeniz Tango from 'Espana'

couldnt finish the liszt, unfortunately. but managed a decent job with the appassionata (its a bit better than what's in the audition room atm). Is this a decent programme for a first recital? it'll be abt 90 mins, with the break and the bowing etc.

[pianowolfi]

I like that program.

Anyway, I wouldn't care too much about if something seems to be "overplayed" or not. Example: Mozart K 331: "everybody" "knows" Alla Turca but who knows the other movements? Some pianists. Other example: Who knows Rach 3,2? Some pianists. The vast majority of people don't have any clue that a composer like Rachmaninoff even existed. Rach...what?? never heard of him...but if they listen to the piece they will probably get very interested

[weissenberg2]

K.331 is not overplayed, only the 3rd movement.

[richard black]

Is this a decent programme for a first recital?

That's a helluva programme for a first recital! Good luck with it. Where are you performing it? I hope you have a great time preparing and playing it - I'm sure you will.

[gorucan]

Ok, so I may finally get around to doing my first solo recital at some point in the near future. I'm in the final year of my physics course at university, so after that before my masters i may have a couple of months off so i will most probably do the recital. i was thinking of a playing time of abt 80-90 minutes with a 10 min intermission. i'm nowhere near the level of some of the chaps here, so the programme i'm thinking of is as follows:

Mozart Sonata in A KV 331 (I know its overplayed, but I've actually never heard it live in a concert,and I've played it a few years back, and it just requires a bit of cleaning up)  (23-24 min)

Beethoven Sonata - here I've got 2 choices- I did the moonlight for an exam in december, so that's more or less ready. I've done les adieux after that, not completed and it still has a fair amt of work left, but its quite possible for me to do given that i have time.  (~16 min)

Chopin fantasie impromptu (again overplayed, but its a piece I'm very comfortable with- did it for the exam and have been playing it quite a few yrs)  (~5:15)

-------------------intermission------------------------

Chopin Polonaise in A flat Op. 53 (I've just started working on this properly, and its coming into the hands quite nicely, i should be able to finish it in a bit) (~7 min)

Now another choice- Either 3 Rach preludes- op 32 no.5, op.32 no.10, op.3 no2 (i've worked on all these to some degree)
 or Albeniz- Espana (I haven't worked on this except for the Tango, but it's not too difficult, its something a bit different, and its a bit lighter than the other stuff) (~14 min, i think)

Brahms intermezzo in A op 118 no.2 -did for my exam, and i really like the piece (~6 min)

Liszt HR 2- the big finish- am finally making headway with this in terms of technique and its helping with other pieces a lot. i think within a few months i could get it done, its a few patches that require work still, but since i've looked at it a few times, i've memorized the notes more or less, and that helps. (~8:30)

i want to play a programme that's comfortable for me, and don't want to try to outdo myself. any suggestions on the choice of pieces, would you make any changes? and what about the options, espana vs rach, moonlight vs les adieux? i've done a couple of back p&fs,bk 1 no. 3 in C# and no. 21 in Bflat- but i really don't want to open with bach, and i can't think of where else it can fit in. for an encore i thought maybe minute waltz, or the posthumous chopin nocturne in c# minor. i had earlier posted something like this, with great hopes of playing the appasionata, and liszt-aliabieff's the nightingale as an encore, but that's not going to happen in the given time frame- i have exams, tests and admissions to think of too!

Try playing Gaspard de la nuit and La Valse in First part  and Rachmaninoff 2nd sonata and Islamey in the second part

Just kiddin =) Very nice programme, stick with it

[jehangircama]

thanks a lot for the replies.
@richard black: thanks. i'll be playing at the india international centre in delhi, india (where i live). its the place most of the piano concerts are done here. i like the instrument i'm playing, its the best of the grands i've tried out. hope it works out well.
thanks
jc

[richard black]

i'll be playing at the india international centre in delhi, india

Ah - then I'm afraid I'm unlikely to attend! But I'll try to remember to think of you around the time...

[jehangircama]

thanks!

[stringoverstrung]

Jehangecirma,

did your concert take place and if yes how did it work out?
crowd , performance etc? -> let us know about it!!

[jehangircama]

hi,

it went off quite well. i had a full audience (hall seats abt 275-300 people imo), and i really quite liked playing. once on stage, i was a little less nervous than i thought i would be... it helped that the audience was slightly further away- in house concerts one is always closed in and the slightest movement distracts you. here on a stage its better.
everything went quite well till the last mvt of the appassionata - i tired towards the end (was dripping with sweat!), and unfortunately in the final presto, i went and hit a few wrong notes in the last few arpeggios (the whole 3rd mvt was a bit below par actually), which irritated me, but i don't think the audience seemed to mind too much. i was happy with the rest of the pieces, they went off well. even the 1st mvt of the appassionata went abt as well as i could manage. got to play the encore which was nice. and got a standing ovation! all in all, i was happy with it. its been recorded (video), i will try and post it when i get a copy of it...

my teacher told me just before the performance to have some fun- i think i managed that.
regards
jc

[lostinidlewonder]

Congradulations, a live performance is rarely without mistakes (from any pianist no matter how skilled). Standing ovation should make you not care about your mistakes at all! Well done

[perfect_pitch]

Do you have any goal to post your recordings in our Audition room???

 

[jehangircama]

Do you have any goal to post your recordings in our Audition room???

 

 
no goal as such, especially with the stick i got last time round on the appassionata.... but will put some of it up atleast if i can..

[stringoverstrung]

bravo.

Never mind the stick. everybody can make negative comments. don't bother about it.

It will only affect you when you let it get to you.

People who themselves have played in front of 300 + people will most likely give some positive and constructive remarks and the others - if they are negative -  should do it first and talk later.

[jehangircama]

thanks a lot you guys, that is encouraging. hope to be able to do this sort of thing on a regular basis....but still a long way to go.

went for a really superb concert today btw, first time i heard gaspard de la nuit live (and,as a matter of fact, in one stretch)- pretty interesting music, have never bothered much with ravel and debussy till now. will look into it. but that piece requires some technique! will set sights a little lower for the moment. he also played 3 contrapunctus from the art of fugue, beethoven op 110 and the bagatelles, liszt jeux des villa de' este (not sure of the spelling) and a honegger piece. one of the best concerts i've been to in a while. wonder if the chap is on this forum..swiss living in new york

[imbetter]

thanks a lot you guys, that is encouraging. hope to be able to do this sort of thing on a regular basis....but still a long way to go.

went for a really superb concert today btw, first time i heard gaspard de la nuit live (and,as a matter of fact, in one stretch)- pretty interesting music, have never bothered much with ravel and debussy till now. will look into it. but that piece requires some technique! will set sights a little lower for the moment. he also played 3 contrapunctus from the art of fugue, beethoven op 110 and the bagatelles, liszt jeux des villa de' este (not sure of the spelling) and a honegger piece. one of the best concerts i've been to in a while. wonder if the chap is on this forum..swiss living in new york

Is this Gilles Vonsattel?

[jehangircama]

yes, do you know him? he was really good.

[imbetter]

yes, do you know him? he was really good.

Yes I do know him. As good as he is now he sounds like he's still improving as he's still very young. The reason I recognized him because of the program and the fact he's Swiss.

[jehangircama]

ohk..yes, he should have a good career ahead of him, he played very well on a piano that I know from experience is difficult to handle. will track his career with interest, hope to hear him again sometime. he has a good concerto rep. too, from what's on his website.

[jehangircama]

hey, i've just seen the video of the concert, but the files are .vob files (there are some smaller files too). these are pretty big,  some are almost 1 GB... any idea how i can upload them?

[tds]

hi,

it went off quite well. i had a full audience (hall seats abt 275-300 people imo), and i really quite liked playing. once on stage, i was a little less nervous than i thought i would be... it helped that the audience was slightly further away- in house concerts one is always closed in and the slightest movement distracts you. here on a stage its better.
everything went quite well till the last mvt of the appassionata - i tired towards the end (was dripping with sweat!), and unfortunately in the final presto, i went and hit a few wrong notes in the last few arpeggios (the whole 3rd mvt was a bit below par actually), which irritated me, but i don't think the audience seemed to mind too much. i was happy with the rest of the pieces, they went off well. even the 1st mvt of the appassionata went abt as well as i could manage. got to play the encore which was nice. and got a standing ovation! all in all, i was happy with it. its been recorded (video), i will try and post it when i get a copy of it...

my teacher told me just before the performance to have some fun- i think i managed that.
regards
jc

1st recital n u played that kinda program..wow!

and it went very well....WOW!! congrats, my friend!

[jehangircama]

thanks!