Program ideas

[chicoscalco]

I find it quite entertaining to think of program ideas for hypothetical concerts. As we all know this is a very important aspect of a concert, the "unity". I wanna hear your ideas of what pieces would go well together! And maybe this can serve as inspiration for someone 

I had this crazy idea this afternoon of doing a Bach toccata and fugue, followed by an early Beethoven Sonata. Then Ravel's toccata and fugue from the tombeau, and a late Scriabin Sonata! 
I think this dichotomy would be very fun to hear!

[pianoman53]

I enjoy it too, and have created a few threads like this one. Though, people seem to be more interested in talking about whether a piano trio is a trio or three pianos, or how much Bach sucks.

Anyhow, I have the idea that Mozart's a minor rondo, and the Dante sonata by Liszt would make a good couple. I'd probably fill it with Chopin and Debussy.

[chicoscalco]

I enjoy it too, and have created a few threads like this one. Though, people seem to be more interested in talking about whether a piano trio is a trio or three pianos, or how much Bach sucks.

Anyhow, I have the idea that Mozart's a minor rondo, and the Dante sonata by Liszt would make a good couple. I'd probably fill it with Chopin and Debussy.

I can certainly see that. I bet that if I wrote "Rach 3" on the subject this topic would much more successful. 

[pianoman53]

.. or if you wrote something that isn't related to anything

Anyways, there are kind of two types that one has to think of.

My example, with Liszt and Mozart, is more of an intellectual one: Both kind of tells the same story, and both have lots of chromatisism going on. Though, I'm not sure they would fit very well musically. There, I think, one has to weigh up. To only have pieces that are musically beautiful together sometimes leaves me without really anything, and with the intellectual approach, I usually either don't get it until after the concert, or being dead tired before the intermission.

[chicoscalco]

I personally find concertos on which the performer explains what he's playing to be very enjoyable. This would fit well with your idea of intellectual program I believe, since not a lot of people that attend concerts would be able to draw the line between the Mozart rondo and the Dante sonata, for example.

On the other end, the musical program, I believe "explaining" is not very appropriate. Last week, for example, I attended a small concert on which the performer played Waldszenen and the op. 111. Words are unnecessary for this kind of program, I believe. 

PS: Andras Schiff is going to do a concert to celebrate his 60th anniversary. Goldberg and Diabelli. Although I'd love to see him play these variations, I think they are a bit too much together.

[cabbynum]

For me personally if I were to choose a hypothetical concert programme with some works I can't yet play or have no intention of learning anytime soon. I'd do the following in a way that has a bit of a fade from dark and gloomy to bright and happy

Scriabin op.2 no.1 this would also serve as a good settling of the nerves piece, it's not too hard and would allow a bit of relaxation

Beethoven op.57 dark piece, but it has moments that are light and hints at smiling.

Alkan op.39 no.11 this piece starts off dark and thick and powerful, let's off the gas to hell for a while and jumps back into it after some thought. Then a final turnaround and ends with good intentions

Chopin ballade no.2 the darkest major key work I've ever heard

And finish with something fun like the black keys etude or a grande valse