Piano Concerto

[skywalker_06]

Hey guys, I'm a sophomore in high school this upcoming year and every year my orchestra does a seniors concerto (I play violin as well but piano is my real passion) and they allow seniors to audition to play one movement of a concerto of their choice at the end of the year concert. I was wondering, because I feel like I should start soon to get a concerto up to performance level, what your favorite movements of all the piano concerti are. In my opinion, I really love the Chopin No. 2 Mvts 1 & 2 but I've heard that orchestras really don't enjoy playing Chopin. Next favorite is Rach 2 and third would be the Shostakovich Concerto No 1 1st or 3rd mvt. Also, suggestions on how to tackle a concerto would be very much appreciated! Thanks in advance for your time!

[visitor]

My most favorite concerto of all.  I think if you only do a single movement stick to 1 or 3. 

[visitor]

To give a more cohesive and satisfying experience try looking at non multiovement works
thia concertino fits the bill a f probably my number two top pick in the lit.  Like a chopiny gershwiny bon bon. It is yummy

[asiantraveller101]

Since you brought up Shostakovich no. 1, have you looked at Shostakovich no. 2? Quite an effective piece. Easier too.

[skywalker_06]

Do you guys think Prokofiev 3 would be too difficult for an amateur orchestra?

[pianoman1349]

it really depends on what level of the Amateur Orchestra is ... if the orchestra is regularly performing a annual series of 6-7 different programs of masterworks such as Holst Planets, Beethoven 3, Mahler 1 ...etc, then Prokofiev 3 would be no problem.

That being said, it is one of the hardest orchestral accompaniments.  Shostakovich is also tricky, but doable for a less accomplished orchestra. The same with Kabalevsky 3.

[rubinsteinmad]

I think that, even if it's a "not-so-hot" orchestra, it can be much better than usual if it has a good conducter. That being said, if your conductor is kind of amateurish, DO NOT play a concerto with a difficult accompaniment!!!

I've never played that concerto though, so I wouldn't know

But still, that's something to consider. If you have a professional conductor with a bit of conducting experience (lol) , then I think that you can raise the level of your orchestral accompaniment a little higher.,

[skywalker_06]

The concerto is played with the advanced orchestra (we have 2 orchestras at our school, one freshmen and upper classmen who didn't make the adv. orchestra, and an auditioned picked out orchestra). Our conductor is VERY accomplished. She's not professional, but she is very good at getting them ready for the concerts, and every concert put on by the advanced orchestra is at a very high level of performance quality. And she does have MANY years of experience under her belt...The most recent "famous" concertos played were the 1st mvt of the Elgar cello concerto 1st mvt of Dvorak's cello concerto and the 1st mvt Kabalevsky violin concerto.

[pianoman1349]

In that case, the string parts won't be that much of an issue.

Assuming you play 1st movement ...

My immediate thoughts go to the ability of your piccolo and flute players ... this concerto features many exposed solos for both players and will not end well if either is unable to play at an almost soloist level.

Same with the Clarinet 1 and oboe player.  Actually, the orchestra needs a good wind (and to lesser extent, brass) section

A fairly comprehensive percussion section is needed, with a good castinet player

Movement two has moments for all of the wind players to have a solo.

Nutshell takeaway ... good wind section = good performance

[visitor]

You could have conductor research ( you mention experience and accomplished so this will help as she will need resources to verify this)

If these score parts to the orch are available anywhere for rent or if they can be loaned from one org to another or via interlibrary loan

Super cool concerto not tsrr8bly difficult and noroften performed but lyrical