Playing pieces that don't suit one's temperament and personality?

[cinnamon21]

Hi everyone

Has any of you played pieces that you love but probably don't suit your temperament and personality?
All this time, I've always been playing slow, delicate pieces like Mozart sonatas, Chopin nocturnes, Debussy, etc... but this year I decided to challenge myself by choosing to do more 'loud' pieces like Chopin Ballade no. 2 and Prokofiev Sonata No. 2, 1st movement for my uni exam recital. So far I've learned the notes, and memorized the Ballade, though it's not up to performance standard yet (still working on the presto con fuoco sections).

The thing is, is it good to play pieces outside your comfort zone? I love these 2 pieces, but I'm scared that these pieces r too violent and aggressive for me n I'm scared of playing loud...and it's pretty risky since I'm playing it for an exam which is in 3 months time.

Any advice on how to play these pieces? Maybe I'm used to soft pieces. Should I become someone else when playing them?

[andreslr6]

The only way to grow in any way, be it musically, as a person, taste of different foods, etc. is by getting out of your comfort zone . It will probably be better if you don't try them for the exam in 3 months though but you can start studying them, or pick shorter pieces with the same temperament, for example, for Prokofiev you could start with a bunch of his Visions Fugitive, they are 20 miniatures with varying moods ranging from super sweet to super agressive and violent. For Chopin you could try his Prelude in Dm or the Bbm, or some etudes, etc.

Oh, and I don't think you should turn into someone else when playing them, more like THEY will turn you into someone else .

[kitty on the keys]

I know how you feel ! I  would learn the Bartok Sonata or the Prokovief  3 or 5 Sonatas over the Copland Variations. I enjoyed learning a Perscietti Sonata. They stretched me as a player, but still shy away from loud percussive pieces.  I like the Prokovief 2 Sonata.....the scherzo is delightfully sarcastic and evil.

Kitty on the Key

[quantum]

Percussive, rhythmic pieces used to pose a question mark to me.  I wasn't exactly sure how to express a temperament that was rather foreign.  It was like trying to read a page of text from a language I did not understand. 

However, I persisted, listening to more of this type of music and playing and improvising in this style.  Over time, it grew on me.  Now, I love fists, elbows, and rhythmically bashing the piano.  IMO, it is just another tool of expression to add to one's repertoire.