Ideal recital programme?

[simonjp90]

if you could choose to play or hear anything in an hour-long recital.. what would your ideal programme be?

[perfect_pitch]

The sig. says it all...

[slow_concert_pianist]

The sig. says it all...

Haha I only play the Brahms Paganni etudes book 1. His F minor sonata has to suffice in place of book 2. The only other work I do is the Beethoven sonata 30, but I play all the late Beehoven sonatas (32 "variations" to be completed along with the bridge sections in the Hammerklaviar).

In terms of a recital, I personally like to see a brave performer who is prepared to invest in lesser known works. There are a staggering amount of options. Here's this for a starter:

Mozart postumous sonata in C minor (can't find a score on wiki)
Lyapunov Humoresque Op34 or Glazunov Grande Valse De Concert Op41
McDowell Sonata Eroica (No 2)
Martinu Fantasie & Toccata

Just a suggestion.....hopefully not too diabolique

[birba]

interesting.  arrau's ny town hall debut was a bach partita, beethoven sonata, brahms-handel, and the pictures.

[simonjp90]

Haha I only play the Brahms Paganni etudes book 1. His F minor sonata has to suffice in place of book 2. The only other work I do is the Beethoven sonata 30, but I play all the late Beehoven sonatas (32 "variations" to be completed along with the bridge sections in the Hammerklaviar).

In terms of a recital, I personally like to see a brave performer who is prepared to invest in lesser known works. There are a staggering amount of options. Here's this for a starter:

Mozart postumous sonata in C minor (can't find a score on wiki)
Lyapunov Humoresque Op34 or Glazunov Grande Valse De Concert Op41
McDowell Sonata Eroica (No 2)
Martinu Fantasie & Toccata

Just a suggestion.....hopefully not too diabolique

whats the mozart? is it just the c minor sonata or is this something different?

[slow_concert_pianist]

whats the mozart? is it just the c minor sonata or is this something different?

It is a "new" sonata, but from its structure I doubt it was written by the genius. I have it in a 1960's volume of "Mozart's complete sonatas". Wonderful sonata with a particularly sparkling 3rd movement. Sounds rather like Hummel. If I have the time, I will scan it and make it available through pianostreet scores.

[simonjp90]

i was looking for more suggestions, i have a recital in a really really good venue in september, lovely acoustic & model D steinway. so i really want to play a near perfect programme. some lesser known stuff would be brilliant

[franzliszt2]

Mc Hammer's etudes

[tea cup]

This is what I will be playing in a few months for my recital, so for now it is "ideal"!

Scriabin Op. 11 No. 1, 14, 15
Mozart K309
Mozart K310

Not really an hour, but it is quite a lot for me.

[simonjp90]

ah thanks. will definitely be doing some scriabin. also the mc hammer etudes are beautiful.

so far ive got...

bach: prelude & fugue in a minor (book 1) (5mins)
shostakovich: prelude & fugue in a minor (3mins)
grieg: holberg suite (17mins)
chopin: Ab major ballade (7mins)
ravel: gaspard de la nuit (20mins) or scriabin 2nd sonata (11mins)
liszt: paganini study "la chasse" (3mins)

total = 55mins or 46 + 1 more 10 minute piece

any better suggestions? im happy to learn literally anything as i still have the best part of a year. thanks

[slow_concert_pianist]

ah thanks. will definitely be doing some scriabin. also the mc hammer etudes are beautiful.

so far ive got...

bach: prelude & fugue in a minor (book 1) (5mins)
shostakovich: prelude & fugue in a minor (3mins)
grieg: holberg suite (17mins)
chopin: Ab major ballade (7mins)
ravel: gaspard de la nuit (20mins) or scriabin 2nd sonata (11mins)
liszt: paganini study "la chasse" (3mins)

total = 55mins or 46 + 1 more 10 minute piece

any better suggestions? im happy to learn literally anything as i still have the best part of a year. thanks

There is not too much unusual there, plus there is a massive range in difficulty.

Ravel’s Gaspard de la Nuit is a huge work that is completely out of context with the rest of the group. Frankly the only reason it is performed less than it is, is no one can do it properly (well quite a few delude themselves into performing it badly). The only interesting selection is Grieg’s Holberg Suite, which is a work I have never heard performed. Liszt Paganini studies have been performed to death. Chopin Ballade 3 is the “soft option”. The Shostakovich prelude & fugue in A minor is his most played, though the Bach is not played as regularly in isolation, plus WTC2-20 is a much greater challenge. Everyone looking for a romantic work “expressivo” does the Scriabin.

If I wanted to present something “different” I wouldn’t play any of your selection.

[simonjp90]

Ahh fantastic thank you! great reply.

im actually a big big fan of the holberg suite, and rank it up there with late brahms & beethoven! thanks very much for the constructive crit. i don't have too many problems with gaspard, it fits quite well under my hands so tech issues arent too much of a pain, i would have more difficulty with something like liszt or chopin studies.

i was wondering about the ballade actually, and the liszt as well.

if i took out the chopin, what would be a good replacement? maybe something a bit lesser known? like some medtner fairy tales or something?

also what could go after gaspard? i thought la chasse was quite a good one to follow but would happily do something in that sort of light, humourous style. cheers

[simonjp90]

I really want to get holberg & gaspard in., apart from that im not fussed. just building around that really. a variety would be nice

[slow_concert_pianist]

Fair call, put can you really play Gaspard De la Nuit? It is one of the few works I won't even look at & I play several Liszt Transcendental Etudes, Beethoven's Hammerklaviar and most of Albeniz Iberia. Though I accept performance is always a "work in progress", there is a point where the end game could never be fathomed and that is the point I resign from the race.

As for Medtner, I would run with his Sonata Romantica Op 53, but the Fairy Tales are not over performed & all are great works. This is a great work. You can try Fruhling's Fantasy on Bizet's Carmen if you wanted to be completely unusual. How about giving the Granados Allegro De Concierto a go or one of Massenet's pieces - Courante Vite or Valse Folle are exceedingly difficult to play.

Michalowski has done a great paraphrase of Chopin's "minute" [tiny] waltz which is easy to "squeeze in" to any recital. MacDowell is an American composer who wrote some brilliant salon pieces (some not much more than a minute in length). I rate him rather higher than the more popular Gottschalk, but both will add something to any recital.

[simonjp90]

thanks very much for the suggestions! Perhaps you can judge for yourself, i actually posted gaspard on here about 3 years ago as a 16 year old and have improved a Lot since then! It's really not as scary as it looks. if you can find your way around something like feux follets you can find your way around gaspard.

Had a listen to the chopin waltz, brilliant paraphrase and would be a really good one to end with. will have a look at the music. granados probably too long to end with after scarbo. just something small and flashy im looking for.

[slow_concert_pianist]

thanks very much for the suggestions! Perhaps you can judge for yourself, i actually posted gaspard on here about 3 years ago as a 16 year old and have improved a Lot since then! It's really not as scary as it looks. if you can find your way around something like feux follets you can find your way around gaspard.

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=22554.0 - ondine
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=24966.0 - scarbo

Had a listen to the chopin waltz, brilliant paraphrase and would be a really good one to end with. will have a look at the music. granados probably too long to end with after scarbo. just something small and flashy im looking for.

I cannot play Feux Follets. Of The Liszt Transcendentals 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11 & 12 are a "rehearsal in progress” currently, I have made an error riddled recording of Wild Jagd which runs 13 minutes (I may be slow, but not “crawling” lol). With more dedicated rehearsal, I could play this etude in 7 minutes (usual performance speed is circa 5 minutes) relatively error free. Having said that I was taught to observe all notes, phrasing, expression, dynamics WITHOUT sustaining pedal to ensure all the detail is maintained regardless of composer/period. The exceptions would be pedalling exercises or passages that are impossible to play without pedal (& I mean impossible!).

So for me to approach Gaspard I would have to complete it without pedal & my technique is not strong enough, currently. I shall try and review your performances, but beware I am a fearsome critic!!!

[slow_concert_pianist]

thanks very much for the suggestions! Perhaps you can judge for yourself, i actually posted gaspard on here about 3 years ago as a 16 year old and have improved a Lot since then! It's really not as scary as it looks. if you can find your way around something like feux follets you can find your way around gaspard.

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=22554.0 - ondine
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=24966.0 - scarbo

Had a listen to the chopin waltz, brilliant paraphrase and would be a really good one to end with. will have a look at the music. granados probably too long to end with after scarbo. just something small and flashy im looking for.

I listened to the whole of ondine. Very nice & beautifully French, but the final motif has to be much faster, which leads me on to my criticism of Scarbo. There is nothing wrong in playing slow WHILE you capture the essence. In Scarbo the brilliance lagged the theme...or was it the other way around? In ondine you found the music, but scarbo was Polinni.....A MESS OF NOTES!!! Also the openning notes of Scarbo are highly unconvincing & you do no better in the repeats.

I may revist scarbo when I have time but I listened to 25% this time.

[simonjp90]

I listened to the whole of ondine. Very nice & beautifully French, but the final motif has to be much faster, which leads me on to my criticism of Scarbo. There is nothing wrong in playing slow WHILE you capture the essence. In Scarbo the brilliance lagged the theme...or was it the other way around? In ondine you found the music, but scarbo was Polinni.....A MESS OF NOTES!!! Also the openning notes of Scarbo are highly unconvincing & you do no better in the repeats.

I may revist scarbo when I have time but I listened to 25% this time.

yeah scarbo is pretty crap, didnt know much about anything back then. i think thats a little harsh though...! im sure i got at least 90% of the notes...

[weissenberg2]

The Goldberg variations I suppose, I have always wanted to hear them played live.

[simonjp90]

Having said that I was taught to observe all notes, phrasing, expression, dynamics WITHOUT the use of sustain pedal to ensure all the detail is maintained regardless of composer/period. The exceptions would be pedalling exercises or passages that are impossible to play without pedal (& I mean impossible!).

could not agree more. hate it when some artists (GAVRILOV) just blur the dodgy notes with loads of sustain pedal. the excitement comes (especially in a piece like scarbo) from hearing the notes as clearly as possible

[quasimodo]

If I were a concertist with a substantial repertoire, my ideal 1 hour recital would be program-less. I'd just play what I feel best at the very moment.
I wonder if someone does that?

[slow_concert_pianist]

yeah scarbo is pretty crap, didnt know much about anything back then. i think thats a little harsh though...! im sure i got at least 90% of the notes...

A mess of notes isn't wrong notes lol I don't know the score well, but it sounded more or less accurate. My criticism was on how you managed those vast numbers of notes. And let me give you some credit where credit is due....I have never dared attempt Scarbo. I am 44 & you were 16. Don't be disheartened!

[liordavid]

pieces of different tempi, music of popular composers{haydn, beethoven, etc}, and music of different periods. That is what makes a good recital

[saraddc]

Pierné: etude de concert. 5 minutes, beautiful, short, good for an encore. Listen. I like