MTNA Audition Repertoire

[lorditachijr]

Well, it's finally that time of the year: MTNA Auditions. Please tell me what you think about my repertoire choices. I've already been working on these for most of the summer, so I'm already pretty comfortable with most of them. They are all from memory except the Bach. I am auditioning in the Senior Performance category (ages 15-18).

Beethoven - Sonata in F Minor, Op. 57: I. Allegro assai (10 mins)
Chopin - Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23 (9 mins)
Rachmaninoff - Polichinelle (4 mins)
Bach - Prelude & Fugue in D Minor (4 mins)

These aren't exact the exact timings, but they are about the length I usually get from a recording. I plan on using the Beethoven, Chopin and Bach in the State Competition (25 min limit) and adding the Rachmaninoff if I make it to the Division Competition (30 min limit). I think my order will be Rach, Beethoven, Bach and then Chopin. I'm going back and forth between putting the Beethoven or the Chopin last on the program.  My teacher and I will discuss this at our lesson this week, so I'll get her input as well. If you have any suggestions for changing the order or warnings about these pieces (I know the Beethoven and Chopin are pretty overplayed), please let me know.

[chopinspride]

The pieces you have chosen are wonderful, firstly congradulations on learning them!

For the division part, you could do them in chronological order which would make sense. I like this, because your program would opens with a "Prelude" and end with a wonderful showy virtuso piece. For your state competition, I would swap the Bach with the Rachmaninoff. This would be my choice, as the appassionata has a atmospheric opening, then you would have two very emotional pieces, and an audience-pleaser at the end (the Polichinelle.)

For playing all four, another option would be to open the Appassionata (i am obsessed with this ) then the Bach, then Bach then Polichinelle.

Do what your teacher says, they are the expert.

Keep me informed of your plans!
Good Luck

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

[nanabush]

Sounds good!  The Rachmaninoff is an interesting choice!

[lorditachijr]

Haha thanks. Today I looked at that order I put in my original post and thought I must have been crazy at the time. I am sort of against putting Bach first as it seems that's what everyone else does. The Appassionata is a great opener, but I'll definitely have to try out the piano first. Those first 2 lines can be deadly for me on an unknown piano. The Rach is sort of the odd one out in the group since it is really quite underplayed at competitions and isn't as serious as the other pieces. I like your suggestion of replacing Bach with Rach at state since then I would have a relief to all of the emotional depth  . The reason I would love to put the Chopin last is that I think having the coda being the last thing they hear is sort of like going out in a blaze of glory. Of course that is only if I can get it as perfect as I possibly can. If I feel it's even the slightest unstable I'll definitely do Rachmaninoff last. I'll respond to this thread with what my teacher thinks.

Thanks again,
John