What to play to contrast with Chopin? Advice for choosing repertoire in general?

[mishamalchik]

So more specifically, what to play to contrast with Chopin when your strengths are heavily geared towards his era of music?

My teacher has asked me to pick a higher caliber piece, which is to say a longer more intensive piece as all of my work so far has been on difficult but short pieces. (Chopin opus 10 no 1, opus 25 no 7, Bach prelude and fugues, Scriabin Preludes etc. ) My teacher suggested some Beethoven Sonatas and some Liszt pieces of note.

I'm leaning towards one of the Chopin Ballades, either in g minor or A flat major but given that I'm thinking of preparing it for competition, I'd like to be thinking about what piece to contrast it with. Also, any advice for choosing repertoire in general is very welcome.

Beethoven, Bach and, in general, Classical era composers are have proven most difficult for me to a point of near ridiculousness. But my strengths lay in octaves, arpeggios, and flashier techniques, what is there that contrasts with Chopin but still falls into these categories of strengths?

 P.S I'm getting ready to record opus 10 no 1 and share a bit of a blog about how I worked through the piece as an adult(ish) student.

[visitor]

Warren's Along the western shore for piano would be awesome
i dark hills
ii nocturne
iii sea rhapsody
 

[visitor]

Also awesome

[outin]

If Bach isn't your thing, why not play Scarlatti?