Hypothetical Concert Program

[joeplaysthepiano]

What would guys think of the following concert program, which is to be about an hour long total.  Would you be excited by it?  Would you order it differently?


Beethoven- Moonlight Sonata
Chopin- Barcarolle
Rachmaninoff- Prelude op.23, no.4
Beethoven- Op.78
Chopin- Scherzo no.2

[49410enrique]

i think it's too heavy on romantic repertoire,i.e unblanced. i probably wouldn't sit through the whole thing though would enjoy each piece on their own if they were part of a better laid out recital. my $.02

PS I'll add if you want a full romantic only program shoot for some continuity, i.e. all one composer or all one type of program music, or a survey of a particular form, etc. also consider making it a lecture recital, i have found those to be the most effective when going this route.

[j_menz]

Unlike 49410enrique, I don't particularly object to an all romantic concert.  I do, however, feel that there needs to be enough contrast in the pieces chosen, and that there should be some link between them. 

That can be of the "lecture-recital" type, but can also be quite an abstract one. It gives the audience an opening into the works (remembering that most of the audience need not be familiar with any much of them); something to listen for, as much as to listen to. It also gives an added dimension to the concert, and an added dimension to the individual works even for those who already know them.

Not sure you program has that, but would be pleased to be enlightened.

[virtuoso80]

I would switch the first and last: Open with the Scherzo, close with the Moonlight. Also, doing such a typical Rach Prelude as well is kind of one too many 'common' pieces. Do you know any other Preludes of his?

[joeplaysthepiano]

Whoops!  I meant to say Rach prelude op.23 no.4, a very different piece from no.5!  My thinking was initially doing just a Beethoven and Chopin recital, then I just threw in the Rach prelude because I love it and recently learned it.  I was thinking the moonlight contrasts nicely with the op.78 sonata.  I think the Barcarolle is so unique and to me not as well known that it would mesh well with the Scherzo.  I was just thinking it would be interesting and different to do an all Chopin and Beethoven concert.  Angela Hewitt is playing in Austin, Texas soon and she is basically doing the same type of thing except just playing Bach and Ravel.  I thought it was an interesting concept.