a competition question

[BoliverAllmon]

I am gong to be competing in a contemporary piano competition soon. I am going to play Shostakovich's prelude 14 op. 87. THe piece is real slow, but has tons of room for interpretation. Would you think that this piece or any other slow piece has any chance at all with more virtuosic pieces?

[Skeptopotamus]

It's an okay piece.  Probably wont get very far though.

On the other hand, if you play the P and F No. 15, then you will do very well, I would guess.  See if you can handle that one.

[Alde]

How you do in the competition really depends on the quality of the performance.  Are there any note mistakes, did you follow all the dynamic markings,  what it a convincing performance, etc.
Sometimes, although rarely, the slower pieces beat the faster ones.
In a competition for younger children, there was a child who won a class performing the 2nd movement of Mozarts C Major Concerto K.467 "Elvira Madigan".

[ehpianist]

Competitions are very subjective because the jury is only human and they all have their own personal biases.

Play what you play best.  If you have the right jury they will be impressed, if you have the wrong jury it is beyond your control so it won't matter anyway.

Whatever you take to a competition, it should be second nature, make sure you have played it in public before (ideally more than once) and that you are convinced when you are playing it that it at the competition that it is the most beautiful piece in the world.  Usually you will manage to convince everyone if you believe it yourself. Good luck!

Elena
https://www.pianofourhands.com