Liszt Concerto No. 1

[superman1980]

Hi Pianostreet,

I am currently working on Liszt's First Concerto and I can (almost) fluently play the first three "movements". However, I am currently working on the last movement (about halfway done fluently reading the notes) and I am getting a little bit discouraged.
I hear famous pianists like Lang Lang and Martha Argerich play this concerto and feel like my playing will never be close to their standard. (And I would like my concerto to be similar to theirs so I can win the Canadian Music Competition this June.)

Does anyone have any tips for working on this concerto or ideas on how I could improve even more?

Thank you very much for your time in reading this post.

[superman1980]

Reviving post....please answer.

[pianistaw]

There is really not much one can answer. You are going to have to be a LOT more specific with what you want help with.

Not that I could help, but if you would be a little more specific, I am sure a lot of people here are willing to help you.

Btw, making your performance sound like someone else's is no guarantee that you'll win. You should always have your own interpretation.

[dima_76557]

I hear famous pianists like Lang Lang and Martha Argerich play this concerto and feel like my playing will never be close to their standard. (And I would like my concerto to be similar to theirs so I can win the Canadian Music Competition this June.)

Forget about measuring yourself against anybody else.

Also, instead of striving for superficial glitter (that's what most pianists make of it), search for the MUSICAL content in the concerto. Listen, for example, to what Sviatoslav Richter does with it, not for imitation, but (as I hope) for inspiration: