Emperor Concerto

[pianoman2323]

I'm playing it for a competition in November, but it needs to be cut down to 15 minutes. Can it be done tastefully?

[49410enrique]

 i don't think so. better to play complete movement or movements and leave one or two of them out than chop it up. that that's me from a musical sensibility point of view. if i were backed up against a corner with no choice, in a piano competition scenario, i would cut orchestral only interludes/i.e. extended places where the piano rests and ensemble carries the work alone. also generally i would be more okay with altering shortening any cadenzas that are not explicity written out by the composer.

but still, if you have time, i would strongly consider choosing a work that will fulfill the requirements and not have to cut up.

[asiantraveller101]

Yes, shorten the 1st and 3rd tutti (not counting the introduction tuttis). Emperor 1st movement runs approx. 20 mins. So hopefully with the cuts, you will just be in the time limit, or a little over.
BTW, find out if: 1. the rule say there will be penalty if you go over, or 2. Will the judges just stop you when your time is up?

[pianoman2323]

Yeah, I figured I would have to cut the tuttis, but even if I did, it would be just over 15 minutes. According to the rules I've seen, if its even a second over 15 minutes, you're disqualified, even if you won the competition and they discover afterwards you went over.  But I spoke to my teacher and she said that the rules are just one movement of a concerto and not based on time. If so, I must have been reading an old set of rules.

[asiantraveller101]

If that is the case, I don't want you to take any chance at all for being penalized. Just cut some some of your solo parts; it is possible. I know the music well, and I also double checked the score before replying this post. Do that with your teacher, bridge the cut parts nicely with smooth harmonic progression, and try to be under 15 mins as required. Good luck! Keep us posted as to your progress!