DipABRSM program?

[kelly_kelly]

So I just passed my ABRSM Grade 8 exam, and my teacher suggested to me that I try the DipABRSM in May. Based on my past repertoire and interests, this is a potential program we have come up with:

Bach - Prelude and Fugue No. 5 in D major from WTC II (about 7 min.)
Schubert - Sonata in A minor D. 537 (about 20 min.)
Prokofiev - Visions Fugitives Nos. 8, 14, 19, 20 (about 5:30)

I would like one more piece, probably something between Schubert and Prokofiev. Originally, my teacher and I were thinking Liszt's Sonetto 123 del Petrarca, since I haven't played any Liszt, but at 7-8 minutes it's a bit too long, since the maximum time is 38.5 minutes. Some shorter pieces I was considering were Debussy’s Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir or Faure’s Barcarolle No. 6. What are your thoughts? Would one of those pieces complete a balanced program? If not, do you have any other suggestions for short pieces of DipABRSM difficulty (on or off the syllabus)?

[alysosha]

Don't really have any suggestions for you just wanted to say the G8 to diploma in 6 months! That's really good isn't it?

[kelly_kelly]

Haha, yeah... My teacher said she wouldn't suggest attempting the diploma just 6 months after grade 8 to most students, but she thinks I can do it. I have played the first movement of the Schubert and two of the Visions Fugitives before, so I have experience with pieces at that level, and I tend to pick up Bach quickly, so that shouldn't be a problem. She also thinks I will do well on the program notes and the Viva Voce, since I love researching music and have a relatively wide knowledge of music and repertoire for my experience. The aspect I'm most worried about is then the Quick Study, but I did decently on the sight reading section of my exam (18/21) and I have lots of experience sight reading for viola, since I play in many ensembles, so hopefully I can improve.

I just realized I didn't notice the Brahms pieces on the syllabus at all! What do you guys think about the Romance op. 118 no. 5 or the Capriccio op. 76 no. 1 with the rest of my program? Or, continuing with the Liszt idea (since I'm fairly sure Liszt would suit me better than Brahms), maybe Sonetto 47 instead of Sonetto 123? Are they of approximately the same difficulty? I think I'm having too much fun with this...