Piano Concerto

[pianovlad1996]

 I want to learn a piano concerto that is suitable for me. My current repertoire is Rachmaninoff Prelude Op.23 No.5, Czerny Etude Op.299 No.29, Beethoven Sonata Op.13, Chopin Rondeaux( Op.1!!!!!), Bach Prelude and Fugue No.9 Vol.I, Chopin Etude Op.25 No.7. My teacher said that I should start with Haydn but I don't like his concertos so I have to decide what concerto should I play by myself. Please help!
  Tim  T_T

[franz_]

Nice repertoire, you choose yourself to play Chopin Op. 1?
About the concerto, I agree with your teacher. What don't you like about the concerti of Haydn?
Maybe Mozart? Beethoven's 2nd? Perhaps Grieg? Saint Seans 2nd?

[franz_]

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[pianovlad1996]

No, my friend, Vlad, who passed me this account played Chopin Op.1 when he was grade 7 and I want to try this piece because it's beautiful and challenging.
First,I don't like very much Haydn. I can't tell why (it's only my feeling) but I don't like Haydn. And, in may I have to play one Piano Concerto with the orchestra and Haydn is too easy. Some of my colleagues played it in sixth grade. Very much pianists in my class play Mendelsohn 1, Grieg, Schumann, Mozart , Beethoven and Shostakovich 2. If I will go with Haydn, it will be embarasing.
Yes, Mozart would be great but I want something romantic and less difficult. She said definetly no for Beethoven 1,4,5 (but she didn't answer when I asked her for Beethoven 2nd and 3rd), she laughed when I asked her for Grieg, Mendelsohn, Schumann (yes, I don't know what's with my brain sometimes) and Saent Saens. I don't know what should I choose. Mozart is veeeeery hard to articulate and I feel I don't like Mozart too. As my teacher says:'When you don't like a piece don't play it. You will not play it right.'

[franz_]

Well, you shouldn't look to the others. To play Haydn well is very difficult too, and very enjoyable for the pianist and the public. If you don't want, why indeed not try Shostakovich 2nd, or one of the others I mentioned. I don't know whit which ease you play that Rondo, or Rach 23/5, but you need some skills to perform well Mendelssohn 1 or Grieg too. It depends how the others will play it. I understand that you would like to impress with something loud fast and romantic, but a well played Haydn is very impressive too. I would still think about it. Do you need to play a whole concerto or is one movement also fine?

[pianovlad1996]

No, I play with ease the rondo and the Rach too. I don't want something loud or fast (Oh and I hate loud pieces like Rach prelude-but the polyphonic section is gorgeous-), I said I want a romantic Concerto. I don't want to impress anyone(EX:one grade 10 student played Rach 2 which is veeery hard and did not impress somebody at all) and I'm sure I can impress with pieces for my level playing them well. But I don't like Haydn at all, Mozart is beautiful but hard (some say Mozart 20-27 are harder than the Grieg Concerto). And Beethoven is also hard. What should I do? Play Haydn with anxiety, play Mozart with less anxiety but still anxiety? And, I played many Beethoven sonatas and no Haydn or Mozart...........! And the repeated notes in Shostakovich 2 are hard too. I know I sound like a mad scientist but I'm not.
And I have to play a whole Concerto. How could I play one movement with orchestra?

[franz_]

No, I play with ease the rondo and the Rach too. I don't want something loud or fast (Oh and I hate loud pieces like Rach prelude-but the polyphonic section is gorgeous-), I said I want a romantic Concerto. I don't want to impress anyone(EX:one grade 10 student played Rach 2 which is veeery hard and did not impress somebody at all) and I'm sure I can impress with pieces for my level playing them well. But I don't like Haydn at all, Mozart is beautiful but hard (some say Mozart 20-27 are harder than the Grieg Concerto). And Beethoven is also hard. What should I do? Play Haydn with anxiety, play Mozart with less anxiety but still anxiety? And, I played many Beethoven sonatas and no Haydn or Mozart...........! And the repeated notes in Shostakovich 2 are hard too. I know I sound like a mad scientist but I'm not.
And I have to play a whole Concerto. How could I play one movement with orchestra?

Well, you make a problem of many concertos... Anyway you'll have to study hard. I don't understand why you should play with any anxiety Haydn or Mozart, but I understand that you don't want this.
Still I'd advice Shostakovich 2nd, or Beethoven 2nd, I don't know how hard that is but Kabalevsky has one Youth concerto I thought. May be Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue? Anyway, I wouldn't take to many risks as it is your first concerto, and you have to play it in May already.

[bugrad]

Have you considered Brahms #1 or #2 ?

[franz_]

Have you considered Brahms #1 or #2 ?

Are you serious?

[pianovlad1996]

No, my teacher is playing Brahms 1 and if I will go and say :'Can I play Brahms 1?' she will consider me crazy.
Anyway, thank you for your advice with the Brahms but it will be good after 9 or 10 years when I'll have the maturity and technique to play such concertos.
And for franz_, I want to try Mozart 24. I listened the whole concerto and it is great. Is this concerto a good idea or it is too hard?

[franz_]

No, my teacher is playing Brahms 1 and if I will go and say :'Can I play Brahms 1?' she will consider me crazy.
Anyway, thank you for your advice with the Brahms but it will be good after 9 or 10 years when I'll have the maturity and technique to play such concertos.
And for franz_, I want to try Mozart 24. I listened the whole concerto and it is great. Is this concerto a good idea or it is too hard?

Yes I think it's the best choice you had already   Just have a look trough it, may be start with the difficult places, and image that you have to play al this with orchestra in May. If you think you can do it, go for it.
To give you an idea; my first concerto with orchestra was Mozart Piano Concerto No. 17
It was very enjoyable.

[richterfan1]

hmmm, Mozart's 20, or Chopin's 1

[pianovlad1996]

Thank you franz_! Mozart is a good choice. I looked at the score and I think I can play it. Good luck and hope you will play Chopin 1 greatly.
richterfan1, thank you for your advice. I will think about Mozart 20 or 24. Both are beautiful. As for Chopin 1, I'm not even close for a good interpretation of this concerto. Who wants to see a silly girl playing wrong this concerto with orchestra? I'm not mature enough. Anyway, thank you for your opinion.
Timea 

[franz_]

Thank you franz_! Mozart is a good choice. I looked at the score and I think I can play it. Good luck and hope you will play Chopin 1 greatly.
richterfan1, thank you for your advice. I will think about Mozart 20 or 24. Both are beautiful. As for Chopin 1, I'm not even close for a good interpretation of this concerto. Who wants to see a silly girl playing wrong this concerto with orchestra? I'm not mature enough. Anyway, thank you for your opinion.
Timea 

Ah you read my post as well
Where will you play this concerto? Than I'll come!
And Mozart 24 is a good choice! Enjoy it.

[pianovlad1996]

If you want to come to Russia.... I will be very happy if I'll met you. Anyway, I am reding now Mozart 24 and it's a real challenge (I'm already at page 13). I'll play it in may along with Chopin's Revolutionary Etude, Aeolian Harp, Op.25 No.7 and Op.10 No.8. I hope the audience won't be so cruel. Good luck, Timea. 

[richterfan1]

I wish you luck! and hope you will enjoy the concerto

[franz_]

I knew somehow you are from Russia, cause of your name I guess. How old are you actually? And who's your teacher? Enjoy it!

[49410enrique]

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[keyboardkat]

I don't think I would suggest Chopin 1 for your first concerto, unless you have done a good number of Chopin's etudes.  He actually began writing the etudes in order to prepare pianists for the difficulties they would encounter in his concerti.   Remember that Chopin changed forever the way the instrument is played, and his technical innovations were revolutionary in his time.
Also, the first movement of this concerto is a bit overlong for its content, and the working-out section is very much in the nature of a technical study (but it will give you good double-notes)!  And the coda of the first movement is a real bear, with those left-hand appogiaturas, trills and turns while trying to do all those thumb movements in the right hand.   I think the second movement is lovely and the last movement is fabulous, energetic, pleasant, and a great stand-alone piece. 

[precipitato]

yes i strongly agree with Franz_! though the "big composers" concertos are what people really like, and many aspiring pianists like all of us crave to play, still begin with the easier ones.

on my own experience, i played Mozart's 23 k.488 2 years ago when i was 12. i had been thinking about chopin 1 at that time too! but, through considerations i decided to learn something to build up my foundations before taking on these works. now i am looking into liszt 1 and tchaikovsky 1.

but, all concertos are demonic works. they all are msaterpieces and to play them well is not easy at all. quality is what every concerto needs. a concerto is not easy to play, if you want to play it doesn't mean you can.

it is great to see people like you having such aspirations. yes, by learning an easier concerto first (technical wise), you slowly build up and play those huge works. haydn, mozart first. but to play well is another matter! all the best