Your thoughts on my repertoire for Curtis/Juliard?

[teosoleil]

I'm also auditioning for other conservatories. Juliard, Curtis, Eastman, San Francisco, Royal Conservatory (Canada), and L'Ecole Normale (France) are also on my list.

Juliard:

1) Bach Partita No. 6 in E Minor (they'll be asking for the fugal sections)

2) Mozart Sonata K 310 (chosen for musicality and beauty. Any thoughts? Should I change it? If so, to what)? ALTERNATIVELY: Beethoven Op. 110 (your thoughts on a young musician playing a late sonata? I consider myself technically and musically skilled, and I focus a lot on personal interpretation if it matters)

3) Chopin Sonata 3 (should I change it? If so, to what?)

4) Chopin Etude Op. 10 No. 7 (chosen for its unique and extremely difficult technique and musical requirements--there's a reason why it's hardly played!)

5) Rachmaninoff Etude Op. 39 No. 1 (subject to change. If so, to what?)

6) Scriabin Sonata Op. 10


Curtis:

1) Bach Partita 6 in E Minor
2) Mozart Sonata 310 OR Beethoven Op. 110
3) Chopin Sonata 3 (alternatively Ballade No. 2)
4) Chopin SLOW PIECE--still deciding. Suggestions?
5) Scriabin Sonata 10


Your thoughts? Changes I should make? Opinions, anyone?

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Jesus that's a pretty difficult repertoire!

Sorry, but I can't really say much after that because I'm getting ready for college myself...

[aldenh]

If you can do that repertoire real justice, congratulations: you are a member of a very selective club.

I would recommend strongly that you replace the Scriabin with a more modernist work: maybe a shorter work of Boulez (Notations from 1945, maybe), or a set of Schoenberg pieces. Op. 25 is particularly nice, and would help bring the program together: they are a dance suite, with a gavotte, a gigue, and others. It would mirror the Bach very nicely.

I wish you the best for your auditions and career!

[grandstaff]

It matters less what you play, and more how you play it. If you can play these pieces extremely well, then (as others have said, congratulations) sure, sounds great. Personally, I prefer the Beethoven sonata to the Mozart, but both are great. For a Chopin "slow piece", do they allow short pieces, like nocturnes, mazurkas, etc? If so, maybe the C Minor Nocturne? If not, then I don't know. Also, remember that Curtis has THE lowest acceptance rate of any college in America, and Juilliard is not much better. If you think that you can beat out 97% of other applicants by playing these pieces, then go for it. Good luck.

[49410enrique]

curtis is almost mythical in their reputation for 'musical excellence' and selectivity, i think it will be a special kind of original and effortless musicality that will leave an impression with the panel. remember you are being asked to play standard they have no doubt heard countless times, as i have echoed in the past, we are charged with 'saying something original' have something new to bring to the table while upholding with the highest musical and artistic integrity the accepted intent and common practice period appropriate approach to the work.

less emphasis on what you're actually playing, and more about showing them a piece of your soul through the looking glass of the piano is what your ultimate goal should probably be, remember even the worst player at a  camp like curtis (or juliard or any other prestigous conservatory) is light years ahead technically and artistically of most the 'best' you're likely to come across in other circles...

i think within the requirements (which they actually leave pretty open, i.e. curtis is very brief
Piano
 
Applicants will play from memory:
 1.a complete work of J. S. Bach
 2.any Mozart sonata (except K. 545) or any Beethoven sonata (except Op. 49) complete
 3.one slow and one fast selection from the works of Chopin for solo piano (no works of Chopin for piano and orchestra will be acceptable)
 4.a major solo work (at least ten minutes long) of the applicant’s choosing
 
No substitutions for the above repertoire will be allowed.
)

pick what you connect with the most emotionally, the collection as a whole might also be seen as a reflection of your artistic sensibilities, variety, etc.,

i would say that the only variety is see missing in the list is that you are already presenting a full sonata, althoguh the scriabin is already a much larger scale developed form, it is still another sonata, if you are not completely head over heals infatuated and obsessed with that work, consider a long single movement concert work and see how it might show a different side of you, perhaps something modern? or something impressionistic that showcases your diversity and ability to weave a variety of colors ? or even a complete set of short varied pieces i.e. a suite maybe the full debussy children's corner (if that qualified, i'd call and ask) you get a chance to show such charm , humor, sweetness, etc and your ability to quickly change the mood and take the audience on tour , you know think within the confines of the guideless but maybe outside the box (a little)

i.e