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Topic: college audition piece; what do you think about Beethoven sonata #18? (Read 7676 times)

leew

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Posts: 6

college audition piece; what do you think about Beethoven sonata #18?

on: April 09, 2010, 05:57:05 PM

Hello everybody!

Could anybody help me with this question?

My question is "Is Beethoven Sonata #18 (Op31 no 3) a good piece for entrance audition for school such as Juilliard, Curtis, New England, Peabody, Cleveland, equivalent?

This choice is a part of required repertoire for "a sonata (complete) from classical era, Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert"

Would this be a too easy piece for schools listed above?
Thank you for your help in advance.

Sincerely, Lee

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ramseytheii

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Posts: 2488

Re: college audition piece; what do you think about Beethoven sonata #18?

Reply #1 on: April 10, 2010, 03:08:53 PM

Quote from: leew on April 09, 2010, 05:57:05 PM

Hello everybody!

Could anybody help me with this question?

My question is "Is Beethoven Sonata #18 (Op31 no 3) a good piece for entrance audition for school such as Juilliard, Curtis, New England, Peabody, Cleveland, equivalent?

This choice is a part of required repertoire for "a sonata (complete) from classical era, Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert"

Would this be a too easy piece for schools listed above?
Thank you for your help in advance.

Sincerely, Lee

It's clearly too easy. Way too easy. Please, please, don't play it, on account of its easiness. And I don't mean don't just not play it for auditions, just don't play it.

Walter Ramsey

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leew

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Posts: 6

Re: college audition piece; what do you think about Beethoven sonata #18?

Reply #2 on: April 11, 2010, 03:53:37 PM

Dear Ramsey,

Thank you for your reply!
Which Beethoven sonata would you think is worthwile to learn for audition then? I would like to avoid those sonatas that are over popular.
I wonder which Beethoven sonata people usually play for College audition like Julliard and etc.

Sincerely, Lee

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pianisten1989

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Posts: 1515

Re: college audition piece; what do you think about Beethoven sonata #18?

Reply #3 on: April 11, 2010, 03:56:55 PM

I am quite sure he was sarcastic.. So the answer is: No, sonata no 18 is not too easy...

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leew

PS Silver Member
Newbie
Posts: 6

Re: college audition piece; what do you think about Beethoven sonata #18?

Reply #4 on: April 11, 2010, 04:19:48 PM

"I am quite sure he was sarcastic.. So the answer is: No, sonata no 18 is not too easy..."

Pianisten1989, thank you for your input!

Seriously, I need some serious opinion regarding Beethoven sonata no 18 as an audition piece. This is really important since I am preparing for the audition!

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Sincerely, Lee

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avguste

PS Gold Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 300

Re: college audition piece; what do you think about Beethoven sonata #18?

Reply #5 on: April 11, 2010, 05:54:49 PM

No sonata is easy.
It is a good choice. Personally I would go with a sonata not often performed, but again it is a good choice.
What is your rest of the program looking like?
I am assuming you are auditioning next year.

Best

Avguste Antonov
Concert Pianist
https://avgusteantonov.com

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Avguste Antonov
Concert Pianist / Professor of Piano
avgusteantonov.com

leew

PS Silver Member
Newbie
Posts: 6

Re: college audition piece; what do you think about Beethoven sonata #18?

Reply #6 on: April 11, 2010, 06:49:36 PM

Quote from: avguste on April 11, 2010, 05:54:49 PM

No sonata is easy.
It is a good choice. Personally I would go with a sonata not often performed, but again it is a good choice.
What is your rest of the program looking like?
I am assuming you are auditioning next year.

Best

Avguste Antonov
Concert Pianist
https://avgusteantonov.com

Dear Mr. Antonov,
Thank you so much for your advice!

I havn't made my mind up about Bach WTC yet (I've played most of book I, do you have any suggestion?).
For the Classical sonata(complete), Beethoven sonata #18 or #21(Waldstein)
For the major romantic piece, Chopin Ballade #3 or Liszt Rigoletto
For the 20th-21st centry work-- either one of complete Prokofiev sonatas or Ravel sonatine

I will be looking forward to your input on this repertoire. (yes! it is for next year, 2011)

I also noticed in your web site that you studied with Tamas Ungar. Once or twice, I thought whether I could study with him. He has a good reputation as a teacher.

Thanks. Best regard, Lee

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burstroman

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 494

Re: college audition piece; what do you think about Beethoven sonata #18?

Reply #7 on: April 11, 2010, 07:35:18 PM

Good choice! I'm glad to see you have picked a sonata that deserves to be heard more often and no a "war horse".

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leew

PS Silver Member
Newbie
Posts: 6

Re: college audition piece; what do you think about Beethoven sonata #18?

Reply #8 on: April 11, 2010, 08:04:40 PM

Burstroman, Thank you for your input!

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slow_concert_pianist

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Full Member
Posts: 223

Re: college audition piece; what do you think about Beethoven sonata #18?

Reply #9 on: April 12, 2010, 03:45:12 AM

Quote from: ramseytheii on April 10, 2010, 03:08:53 PM

It's clearly too easy. Way too easy. Please, please, don't play it, on account of its easiness. And I don't mean don't just not play it for auditions, just don't play it.

Walter Ramsey

Woww such arrogance is staggering

I'll look forward to hearing your interpretion of this "easy" sonata in the audition room. I have a bucket of rotten eggs to pelt you with.

Beethoven's transitional sonatas are in many ways just as hard to play as his late works, they just are not quite as grand. The final movenment of sonata 18 is hard to play indeed and in general this sonata is a great challenge for any 'sane' performer.

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Currently rehearsing:

Chopin Ballades (all)
Rachmaninov prelude in Bb Op 23 No 2
Mozart A minor sonata K310
Prokofiev 2nd sonata
Bach WTCII no 6
Busoni tr Bach toccata in D minor

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