Recital Program

[cabbynum]

Hey everyone. I'm giving a recital in May.

Here is what I currently have down for what I will be playing for sure

First half
Beethoven op.31 no.2 complete
Hamelin Paganini variations

Second half

Schubert D.960

Now I want to know opinions on what should go in. Mazeppa or Chopin 4th ballade.

I'm leaning towards the Chopin as the liszt is risky as all get out. But, it's also quite an exciting piece for the audience.

I feel like finishing with the Schubert is the best way to go. Anyone disagree?

Feel free to suggest order changes or what to substitute in and out.


Oh and I'll be recording this recital.

[j_menz]

The Schubert seems to me a good opening piece after interval.  It's heavy going for the audience, intense and demanding, so not such a good finish. Depends a bit on your encore(s), but I think something lighter to send 'em packing is better.

I'd open with the Tempest, then the Ballade (or vice versa - I'm in two minds), interval, Schubert and finish with the Ham-Pag.

[cabbynum]

I think I'd do tempest first, ease me into the Ballade. It's definitely the more technically difficult of the two.

I'd almost have to do an encore as I am a bit terrified of the Hamelin... Haha

What would be a good encore to this though? I can whip out the Beethoven sonata parody of Dudley Moore... It's always a crowd pleaser!

[j_menz]

What would be a good encore to this though? I can whip out the Beethoven sonata parody of Dudley Moore... It's always a crowd pleaser!

Given the underlying joke of it is "will this ever end", perhaps not so good for an encore. 

[cabbynum]

Given the underlying joke of it is "will this ever end", perhaps not so good for an encore. 

I change the ending a bit... It's a bit longer but I throw in allusions to several other Beethoven works!

But I get your point.

Hmmm
And mazeppa is too risky as an encore. I wanna be able to nail it!

Any suggestions?

[theholygideons]

Erik Satie's vexations immediately following schubert's d960. The audience would appreciate it very much. like c'mon at least 15 repeats and see their reaction.

[j_menz]

Any suggestions?

Encores should either be fun, or sweetly moving; either familiar or a pleasant surprise.

How about the Tausig/Bach T&F in Dm followed by Liadov's Musical Snuffbox?

[j_menz]

In another thread I also posted a list from a collection I have of pieces used by some of the greats as encores.

OK, contents of the Encores book:

Beethoven - Polonaise Op89
Beethoven - Eccosaises
Beethoven/Busoni Eccosaises
Borodin - Scherzo
Busoni - Turandots Frauengemarch (Greensleeves)
Chaminade - Autrefois (Other Days) Op 87 No 4
Clementi - Finale from Sonata in Bb Op 47 No 2
Czerny - Etude in Ab Op 740 No 33
Delibes - Passepeid from "Le Roi l'a dit"
Delibes/Joseffy - Pizzicati (Pizzicata Polka from "Sylvia")
Godowsky - Alt Wien (Old Vienna)
Grainger - "Shepherds Hey" (English Morris Dance Tune)
Granados - The Maiden and the Nightingale from "Goyescas"
Greig - An der Wiege (By the Cradle)
Guion - Turkey in the Straw
Leschetizky - Arabesque in the form of an etude Op 45 No 1
Levitski - Arabesque Valsante Op 6
Lewenthal - Toccata alla Scarlatti
Liszt - Valse Oubilee No 1
Medtner - Fairy Tale Op 34 No 2
Mendelssohn - The Joyous Peasant Op 102 No 5
Moszkowski - The Juggleress Op 52 No 4
Moszkowski - Etude in F Op 72 No 6
Mozart/Busoni - Serenade from "Don Giovanni"
Phillip - Feux-Follets Op 24 No 2
Prokofiev - March from "The Love of Three Oranges"
Raff - La Fileuse (The Spinner)
Schumann - Nachtstuck Op 23 No 4
Schumann - Romance Op 28 No 2
Schumann/Tausig - Contrabandista (The Smuggler)
Schumann/Liszt - Widmung (Dedication)
Schostakovich - Polka from the ballet "L'Age d'or"
Smetana - Polka Op 7
Weber - Momento Capriccioso Op 12

[superstition2]

Speaking of Satie... His first Ogive is an outstanding encore piece. It's also an outstanding introductory piece.

[cabbynum]

Would alkan op.39 no.12 be a good encore...

[j_menz]

Would alkan op.39 no.12 be a good encore...

Probably too long. Unless you can really play up the humour in it.

Great in a program, though.

[cabbynum]

Probably too long. Unless you can really play up the humour in it.

Great in a program, though.

Where would it go in the program I've listed? Because it's very much within reason for me at this point in time.

[j_menz]

Your first half is about 10 minutes shorter than your second, so at the end of the first? Send 'em off to interval with a chuckle.

[cabbynum]

Your first half is about 10 minutes shorter than your second, so at the end of the first? Send 'em off to interval with a chuckle.

That's a good plan!

And it's a ways a way! so I have time to waffle about the order for a while. Just so long as I have everything learned

[theholygideons]

How about the Tausig/Bach T&F in Dm...?

nah man... Max reger's transcription is better.

[j_menz]

nah man... Max reger's transcription is better.

The Reger is a fine transcription. As to better, that's probably a matter of taste. Cabby has, though, done some work on the Tausig already.

[pianoman8]

If you can do this, it would be an AWESOME encore, especially at this speed

[cabbynum]

If you can do this, it would be an AWESOME encore, especially at this speed

I have thought about it, and was kind of waiting for one of you to post this. I think I'm gonna hold off on that one for a while though. I've recently learned and performed a different bumblebee and I'm all buzzed out.

[theholygideons]

If you can do this, it would be an AWESOME encore, especially at this speed

That's freakin' easy! so easy that even someone as bad as Yuja Wang can play it.

[visitor]

The Reger is a fine transcription. As to better, that's probably a matter of taste. Cabby has, though, done some work on the Tausig already.

the Kabalevsky transcriptions of the large Bach works are also jiggy and I think should be considered when looking at those options  

For encore maybe go old school and a simple Seixas pallet cleanser
Something from here maybe

[goldentone]

Hi Cabby.  I think with the Beethoven and Schubert sonatas you've weighed your program down.  It seems like a ponderous proposition, where you might instead only include one sonata and then in the second half break up the time into smaller pieces that can still provide the adequate force.  This might help you psychologically too to get through the recital.  You won't have two huge mountains waiting for you at the start as you position yourself to deliver your classical jazz.

 

[awesom_o]

I'm afraid I'm also of the opinion that the Beethoven and the Schubert together are a bit too weighty for a single program.
One big classical sonata is plenty for an evening.
Although I have nothing against eclectic programs, I tend to prefer an evening with a bit more 'historical coherency'.... if that makes any sense?

[pianoman53]

I'm not too sure about the Beethoven/Hamelin combo. To mix Beethoven with something as superficial as those Hamelin is, to me, a poor choice. And to play the f minor ballade, and then play something else is also weird. At the same time, the Schubert has to be last... I would actually rethink the program, and change quite some pieces.

[isyriel]

D. 960 is abit long.  and like someonealready said, 2 classical sonatas is abit much. 
i think 4 ballades (abit heavy yeah)  would be good, though it is hard. at least you end memorably witht that coda ...

scriabin fantasie is a good not to over played if not never played piece. it would be less expected as opposed to  4th ballade

i could go and trail off into saying a rachmaninoff sonata but thats farrrrrr off and iMO its a better piece before intermission. 

[cabbynum]

So what if I drop the Schubert and keep everything else so it's

Tempest
Ballade
Hamelin
Alkan

That's an hour. Is that too long?

I could always do the Schubert a few weeks later. Or at the end of the summer before I head out of town. Sort of a "goodbye friends and family of Nashville" recital haha then the d.960 would feel more appropriate honestly.

I like that idea. I'm gonna do that. And I can supplement it with the alkan or Chopin. Or something.

Any suggestions for beefing up the above program for may? Or is it good?

[pianoman53]

Good, this is better. Though, I would do it the other way around. First Alkan and Hamelin, and then Beethoven and Chopin.

[cabbynum]

I like this! I don't know why I get so excited talking about this stuff!

I think I'm gonna do that. And as for encores I may do my Christmas variations just to throw people off...