Piano Competition Program

[nightwindsonata]

Hello all,

I am considering entering a major competition this summer, and would like to bounce some ideas off the crowd for the program. These are all pieces I have played previously, and they highlight what I consider to be my strengths as a pianist and interpreter. I know some of them are really popular, but just because a piece is popular doesn't mean it's bad--the opposite, actually ...

I will be presenting this to my teacher when the term starts again in April, and many of these pieces I will be including in my senior recital at the end of May. I'm more interested in ordering and coherence of theme than I am of actual piece selection, though anyone has a suggestion for something that's doable as a side project within a few months then I'm all ears. The deadline to apply is April 9th, and the competition itself takes place on July 17th--24th.

Preliminary (30 minutes):
Bach Prelude and Fugue in A-flat major (4 minutes)
Beethoven Sonata Op. 31 No. 3 I. Allegro (6 minutes)
Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No. 5 (9 minutes)
Debussy Estampes: Pagodes (5 minutes)
Price Clouds (5 minutes)

Semifinal I (35 minutes):
Bach Prelude and Fugue in Ab major (4 minutes)
Chopin Ballade Op. 47 (7 minutes)
Chopin Nocturnes Op. 62 No. 2 and Op. 72 No. 1 (9 minutes)
Brahms Klavierstucke Op. 119 (15 minutes)

Semifinal 2 (20 minutes):
Chopin Impromptu Op. 66 (6 minutes)
Schubert Impromptu Op. 90 No. 3 (6 minutes)
Schubert Impromptu Op. 90 No. 4 (7 minutes)

Final (50 minutes):
Beethoven Op. 31 No. 3 (21 minutes)
Debussy Estampes (15 minutes)
Florence Price: Clouds (5 minutes)
Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No. 5 (9 minutes)

[lelle]

I think it's difficult to know what a good program for a competition is, except generic things such that it's varied in style and plays to your strengths. I'd seek out a teacher who has a lot of experience coaching students for competitions to get some input.

[rachorascho]

Are you sure you want to have only impromtus in one round? It seems to me as a good idea for a recital, but I do not know, if it is enough representative for a competition... just random thought.

[manuelc23]

It seems pretty good overall! probably I would just change some pieces from the semifinal 2. Villalobos or Granados could add even more variety to your repertoire. Or maybe some dance-like piece like Lyapunov's Tarantella.

[nightwindsonata]

It seems pretty good overall! probably I would just change some pieces from the semifinal 2. Villalobos or Granados could add even more variety to your repertoire. Or maybe some dance-like piece like Lyapunov's Tarantella.

I like the idea of adding some Grenados. I'll take a look at the Tarantella too.