Curtis audition program

[minnielala2]

How does this look:

Bach Toccata in E minor
Mozart Sonata K332 in F major
Chopin- slow: Nocturne op. 48 no. 2 in F-sharp minor
Chopin- fast: Etude op. 10 no. 5 in G-flat major
Mendelssohn Fantasy in F-sharp minor op. 28

And has anyone here auditioned at Curtis before?

[thracozaag]

Seems like a good program; I auditioned with something similar (although back then, they didn't have the extra compulsory piece).

[thalberg]

For Curtis, I recommend:

Bach Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue
Beethoven Op 2 no 3
Brahms/Pagannini Variations
Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit

It's a little long, so you'll have to play fast   

Meh, this was a joke....I have not auditioned at Curtis.

[thierry13]

Well it does look like a good program but a bit easy seeing the level of students there maybe? The Mozart and Bach are fine I guess but you should definitely do bigger Chopins, like a more consistant nocturne and an harder etude(or even something bigger than a nocturne), and definitely something bigger than mendelssohn fantasy op.28 ... tough I have to admit it's an amazing piece 

[thracozaag]

Trust me, if you play the Mozart at a really high level, it'll be far more impressive to them, than someone else playing Islamey or Gaspard at not such a high level. 

[mike_lang]

Trust me, if you play the Mozart at a really high level, it'll be far more impressive to them, than someone else playing Islamey or Gaspard at not such a high level. 

Amen - my teacher got his Premier Prix in 1978 from Paris with Schubert D960 and three Fauré nocturnes (6, 7, 13).  This was at a time when it was much more common to program (as it is today) things like the Liszt sonata and when, according to his (female) teacher, "only girls [played] Schubert."

[thierry13]

Amen - my teacher got his Premier Prix in 1978 from Paris with Schubert D960 and three Fauré nocturnes (6, 7, 13).  This was at a time when it was much more common to program (as it is today) things like the Liszt sonata and when, according to his (female) teacher, "only girls [played] Schubert."

I actually agree with both thracozaag and you, I just tought the others might play bigger stuff and equally well so ... but a Premier Prix with the Schubert 960 + fauré nocturnes is nothing exceptional ... it IS one hell of a program! And Fauré nocturnes are far more difficult than chopin's op.48 no.2 ...

[minnielala2]

Thanks for the input everyone. I know that difficulty-wise, the pieces I'll be playing may not be quite on par with those of the rest of the field. I'm pretty certain I won't get into the finals, especially as I have been without any teacher/musician's guidance for about 4 years now. I love all those pieces though, and I think it's better than playing more difficult pieces I don't love quite as much- or don't have enough time to learn at this point. I only decided to go and audition about a week ago...I just want to play as well as I can, enjoy the experience as much as I can.

[mike_lang]

I actually agree with both thracozaag and you, I just tought the others might play bigger stuff and equally well so ... but a Premier Prix with the Schubert 960 + fauré nocturnes is nothing exceptional ... it IS one hell of a program! And Fauré nocturnes are far more difficult than chopin's op.48 no.2 ...

It is only exceptional with regard to the time at which it was played, and the richness of musical content that is not always present in competition programs...

[sharon_f]

...I have been without any teacher/musician's guidance for about 4 years now.

Not having a teacher might prove problematic. Have you looked at the application?