Pick a Piano Concerto Movement For Me!

[scherzo123]

I plan on doing one or two piano concerto movements with my piano teacher, so do you guys have any recommendations or suggestions? If you do, it will be appreciated! I prefer piano concertos movements that are exciting, a little long, and not too short, so around 4:00 to 11:00 time would be nice. But I've listened to some of them and I don't know where to start:

Liszt Piano Concerto No.1 (any mvt.)
Chopin Piano Concerto No.2 (2nd mvt.)
Prokofiev Piano Concerto No.3 (3rd mvt.)
Yellow River Piano Concerto (any mvt.)
Mozart Piano Concerto No.19 (1st mvt.)
Mozart Piano Concerto No.21 (2nd mvt.)
Mozart Piano Concerto No.23 (3rd mvt.)

These are some that I've heard. Any other suggestions would be appreciated, thank you! 

[davidjosepha]

Here's the generic (but honest) response: pick the one you like the most. A concerto is a huge commitment, so if you don't like it, you're going to either not put in as much time or will hate the time that you are putting in (or both). Since I've started listening almost exclusively to piano music in my free time, I've become much more accustomed with piano repertoire (although I still don't know nearly as much as a lot of guys here), and as a result, I've been able to select pieces I like more which has significantly improved my motivation (and results). I'd recommend you do the same.

But if you really want me to choose for you...

I haven't heard the YR concerto, but I'm relatively familiar with the rest. Mozart? His concertos are quite good, but I don't think I'd personally want to put the amount of time in to learn any of his except maybe the 20th. Mozart is technically much easier than a lot of Romantic concertos but has its own difficulties. For instance, it's much more obvious when you play a wrong note than in, say, a Prokofiev concerto.

I really like Liszt but I don't care for his concertos all that much. Chopin is one I adamantly do not like. There's something about him I can't get over...

Of those you listed, Prokofiev 3 would definitely be my choice.

However, of those you didn't list, here are a few I'd recommend (assuming you're only doing one movement)
Prokofiev 2 (mvt 1 or 4)
Rachmaninoff 1 (mvt 1) (brilliant and underplayed)
Brahms 1 (mvt 1)
Brahms 2 (mvt 1)

And here are some others that are horribly over played
Grieg
Rachmaninoff 2 (it's a beautiful piece but it seems like everyone has played it)
Schumann
Tchaikovsky 1 (please, for the love of God, do not play it)

Anyway, talk to your teacher. He/she will probably have some suggestions as to what you would be able to play.

[scherzo123]

Here's the generic (but honest) response: pick the one you like the most. A concerto is a huge commitment, so if you don't like it, you're going to either not put in as much time or will hate the time that you are putting in (or both). Since I've started listening almost exclusively to piano music in my free time, I've become much more accustomed with piano repertoire (although I still don't know nearly as much as a lot of guys here), and as a result, I've been able to select pieces I like more which has significantly improved my motivation (and results). I'd recommend you do the same.

But if you really want me to choose for you...

I haven't heard the YR concerto, but I'm relatively familiar with the rest. Mozart? His concertos are quite good, but I don't think I'd personally want to put the amount of time in to learn any of his except maybe the 20th. Mozart is technically much easier than a lot of Romantic concertos but has its own difficulties. For instance, it's much more obvious when you play a wrong note than in, say, a Prokofiev concerto.

I really like Liszt but I don't care for his concertos all that much. Chopin is one I adamantly do not like. There's something about him I can't get over...

Of those you listed, Prokofiev 3 would definitely be my choice.

However, of those you didn't list, here are a few I'd recommend (assuming you're only doing one movement)
Prokofiev 2 (mvt 1 or 4)
Rachmaninoff 1 (mvt 1) (brilliant and underplayed)
Brahms 1 (mvt 1)
Brahms 2 (mvt 1)

And here are some others that are horribly over played
Grieg
Rachmaninoff 2 (it's a beautiful piece but it seems like everyone has played it)
Schumann
Tchaikovsky 1 (please, for the love of God, do not play it)

Anyway, talk to your teacher. He/she will probably have some suggestions as to what you would be able to play.

Thanks for your brilliant reply!

[philb]

However, of those you didn't list, here are a few I'd recommend (assuming you're only doing one movement)
Prokofiev 2 (mvt 1 or 4)
Rachmaninoff 1 (mvt 1) (brilliant and underplayed)
Brahms 1 (mvt 1)
Brahms 2 (mvt 1)

[davidjosepha]

Do you not like them? Think they're overplayed? Think they're too difficult? Based on the repertoire in his signature, I would assume he couldn't play Brahms 2 and probably not Prokofiev 2, but based on that, I would also assume he couldn't play the Liszt concerto.

Prokofiev 2 isn't as common as 3, and Brahms 2 is something I could hear 1000 times and not grow tired of. The Grieg concerto, with its 2 melodies, is something I got bored with after just one listen, and believe me, I've heard it more than that!

[scherzo123]

Do you not like them? Think they're overplayed? Think they're too difficult? Based on the repertoire in his signature, I would assume he couldn't play Brahms 2 and probably not Prokofiev 2, but based on that, I would also assume he couldn't play the Liszt concerto.

Prokofiev 2 isn't as common as 3, and Brahms 2 is something I could hear 1000 times and not grow tired of. The Grieg concerto, with its 2 melodies, is something I got bored with after just one listen, and believe me, I've heard it more than that!

...Who are you talking to?

[philb]

Do you not like them? Think they're overplayed? Think they're too difficult? Based on the repertoire in his signature, I would assume he couldn't play Brahms 2 and probably not Prokofiev 2, but based on that, I would also assume he couldn't play the Liszt concerto.

Prokofiev 2 isn't as common as 3, and Brahms 2 is something I could hear 1000 times and not grow tired of. The Grieg concerto, with its 2 melodies, is something I got bored with after just one listen, and believe me, I've heard it more than that!

Brahms 2nd is undoubtedly a masterpiece, but certainly not suitable for the OP.

[chadbrochill17]

Do you not like them? Think they're overplayed? Think they're too difficult? Based on the repertoire in his signature, I would assume he couldn't play Brahms 2 and probably not Prokofiev 2, but based on that, I would also assume he couldn't play the Liszt concerto.

Prokofiev 2 isn't as common as 3, and Brahms 2 is something I could hear 1000 times and not grow tired of. The Grieg concerto, with its 2 melodies, is something I got bored with after just one listen, and believe me, I've heard it more than that!

If the OP can play Prokofiev 2, I would love to hear it. Otherwise I would stay the hell away from it for the sake of his hands.

[49410enrique]

what does you teacher suggest strongly for you? what does the piano ii part look like, have you consulted them about things like accompanying and ensemble issues that can present themselves? probably a good idea to sniff this stuff out...

[camille101]

The Ravel G Major!  Brilliant, one of my all time favourites, not played too often, but not neglected either.  The first movement expresses both musicality and technique between the fast and slow tempo changes, and the jazzy themes are sure to put a smile on the audiences faces 
It is a stunning work, I learned the first movement some years ago, but didn't have any opportunity to play it with an orchestra.  There is a orchestral piano arrangement for the accompaniment, but with the rich colours of all the instruments, an orchestra accompaniment is far superior, as well as this, it features a lot of percussion which can be lost in the piano.
It may be a bit easier on the technical side, but it is still an untouchable masterpiece.  All the bravura and technical brilliance of the Liszt Concerto does not compare to it.
Good luck, and make sure to put a recording of whatever concerto you choose in the audition room!
Camille

[csano]

I'm doing rach2 1st mov. , but it's pretty hard to practice piano concertos w/o an orchestra, or another piano that would play the orchestra part.

I know it's overplayed, but out of about 15 concertos I've listened to, the only one that I actually listened all the way through without being bored was Rach 2's 1st mov.

and since it is overplayed, you can find tons of different interpretations on youtube, and there's also piano solo part only versions.

So I'd recommend rach2 1st mov.
depending on the person, but generally is about 10 min long and it is definitely exciting.

but it's technically challenging, so you should consult your teacher.

[chadbrochill17]

I'm doing rach2 1st mov. , but it's pretty hard to practice piano concertos w/o an orchestra, or another piano that would play the orchestra part.

I know it's overplayed, but out of about 15 concertos I've listened to, the only one that I actually listened all the way through without being bored was Rach 2's 1st mov.

and since it is overplayed, you can find tons of different interpretations on youtube, and there's also piano solo part only versions.

So I'd recommend rach2 1st mov.
depending on the person, but generally is about 10 min long and it is definitely exciting.

but it's technically challenging, so you should consult your teacher.

Why do people care SO much if the piece is overplayed? I mean, this will be his first time playing it and if he loves it, what does it matter?
I think people need to stop being hipster classical listeners. "Oh, I really love this piano concerto, but you haven't heard of it. It isn't mainstream like Rachmaninoff's second."

[csano]

Why do people care SO much if the piece is overplayed? I mean, this will be his first time playing it and if he loves it, what does it matter?
I think people need to stop being hipster classical listeners. "Oh, I really love this piano concerto, but you haven't heard of it. It isn't mainstream like Rachmaninoff's second."

unless you are quoting me for no reason, your comment makes no sense to me.
did I ever say anything about how I care that it's over played? I just said that it's overplayed...
All I said was the reality: it's overplayed, so you can find lots of different interpretations on youtube, therefore it might make it easier to practice.

[davidjosepha]

Why do people care SO much if the piece is overplayed? I mean, this will be his first time playing it and if he loves it, what does it matter?
I think people need to stop being hipster classical listeners. "Oh, I really love this piano concerto, but you haven't heard of it. It isn't mainstream like Rachmaninoff's second."

People don't like to accept that the things most people like are liked for a reason. Sure, pop music is far from my favorite genre, but people who say, "Oh my God, I can't understand why someone would listen to this garbage" are kidding themselves. People listen to it because it has catchy melodies, words they can relate to (or wish they could relate to...), and a beat they can dance to. I don't listen to Katy Perry regularly, but I've listened to her latest album all the way through once and it's very obvious to me why she has so many fans. Of the 12 songs on the album, at least 8 of them were extremely catchy. This all coming from someone who doesn't listen to pop music.

I'm off on a rant, but the same is true of classical music. Why do people play Rach 2 so much? Because it's incredibly beautiful. Why doesn't everyone play some obscure composer only you have heard of's concerto? Because it's not something as many people like. Now, with pop music, you could argue someone is only famous because of their looks, but is anyone honestly going to try and say people only play Rach 2 because Sergei had it going on? None of us (save rachmaninoff_forever, maybe) would say that.

[chadbrochill17]

unless you are quoting me for no reason, your comment makes no sense to me.
did I ever say anything about how I care that it's over played? I just said that it's overplayed...
All I said was the reality: it's overplayed, so you can find lots of different interpretations on youtube, therefore it might make it easier to practice.

My apologies. Only quoting you for reference. Read your post then I decided to go off on a rant and I figured your remark about it being overplayed would somehow connect in people's mind. I'm not saying that what I'm mad about is how you feel at all.

[asuhayda]

Gershwin Concerto in F mvmt 3!  Awesome.