giving recitals

[liszmaninopin]

When a pianist reaches the point that they're giving a recital at least once a month or so, do they usually play different pieces at every recital, or do they maintain a "pool" of perhaps a dozen or twenty works that they play in most of their concerts?

[kempff]

Basically, if they are going to perform during a performing season, they choose a selection of works for that particular seasons. They feel it with concertos, solo recitals and chamber music. For example if he is going to play in 12 recitals, he can do something like this:

3-4 orchestral performances
5-6 solo performances
2-3 chamber music performances

Remember, they repertoire is ever growing, so it changes season after season.

[dinosaurtales]

NOT being a concert pianist myself, I can only guess, but, according to my teacher, who WAS, they maintain a "short list" of pieces that they program around for one or two seasons. They get booked for recitals a couple of years in advance, especially for concerto work, so there is plenty of time to prepare new stuff.  But once they have a concerto on the "books" and learn it, their agents go to work getting more bookings for the same concerto.  at least that's how my teacher describes it.

[BoliverAllmon]

sounds about right to me.

boliver