You should definitely do the Ballade or the Mephisto. Probably not both as you really won't have time.
Consider the order and do a trial run to see your time - my guess is your running a bit over the hour. Allow 2 minutes between pieces too, more time gets taken up there than you might think.
If you do the Debussy, do the Ravel as well and save the Gershwin for your encore - it makes a nice contrast there.
I like your idea.
I will add the Ballade no 2. So, when you say play the Debussy and Ravel, should I play the first 3 valses?
The Gershwin as an encore, would I play a prelude or the 3 preludes? They are very short but sooo much fun to learn. I have not preformed them yet, but I am probably going to avoid blasting the tempo.
I don't know why, but the 1st and last mov of the Beethoven are easier than memorizing the pretty chords in the middle mov. Reading chords is actually more difficult, I think. It's kinda like there are many voices, too.
But, ah. I see what you mean about the contrast. Gershwin is most modern, rather than Debussy and Ravel.
I just don't know what to do there. I've known the Debussy for such a long time now. The Ravel is sometimes stressful, cause of the big scary chords that I will probably omit notes in, but I will keep the lowest and highest notes, for sure.
Idk. I could also just ditch the Ravel and learn more Debussy. I want to do the complete Ravel valse song for my Junior or Senior Recital, anyhow. Whichever one comes first
Then I'd need an encore piece. Could you or anyone suggest a piece that would contrast with Beethoven, Chopin, Gershwin, Debussy?