Thanks for the input. I have been working on Liszt's "Un sospiro" and have been wondering what would be a good "substantial" Romantic piece to follow that if I want to audition for undergrad. I did spend some time on Chopin Ballade No. 1 a few years ago but didn't quite get there with it ...
"There's total antipathy between me and Liszt, but at the same time admiration at his mastery. I find his personality unappealing the playboy turned hermit. It's like a man who has told too many lies for too long, and now he's telling the truth, but it's too late! His music is just vulgar."
I heard Andras Schiff say once that he does not play Liszt or Rachmaninoff, and of course he could if he wanted to, but he does what appeals to him.
Here is the list for one school:From memory:1. Prelude and Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier by J. S. Bach.2. One of the following: A complete sonata by Beethoven, excluding opus 49 and opus 79; a complete sonata by Mozart; a complete sonata by Haydn from the following list: Hob. XVI Nos. 20, 23, 24, 32, 48, 49, 50 and 52 or a complete sonata by Schubert.3. A major composition by a 19th-century Romantic era composer.4. A composition from the last 100 years in a style representative of the many diverse developments in music of the 20th or 21st century, or a work of your personal choice reflecting current genres in today’s inclusive musical landscape.There are also easier requirements for a BA:From memory:1. Sinfonia or Prelude and Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier by J. S. Bach.2. The first movement, in sonata-allegro form, of a Classical period sonata, i.e. a Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn or Schubert.3. A composition by a 19th-century Romantic era composer.4. A composition from the last 100 years in a style representative of the many diverse developments in music of the 20th or 21st century, or a work of your personal choice reflecting current genres in today’s inclusive musical landscape.And for the less competitive school (for a BA):-2 memorized pieces in contrasting styles (examples include, but are not limited to, a Bach Two or Three-part Invention or Prelude and Fugue, a first movement of a Classical period Sonata, a Chopin Nocturne or equivalent Romantic or 20th Century work).-All major and minor scales and arpeggios, 2 octaves.-Sight reading will be included in the audition
@thorn - I found this quote from Andras Schiff (in an interview done in 2001):From this: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/andras-schiff-the-political-pianist-9237194.html
World class pianist or not, this is just dumb. Liszt is not my cup of tea either but you can't find a greater example of a piano sonata in the romantic era than Liszt's B minor sonata. Absolutely glorious piece of work. If you don't care for it you either don't like the piano at all or you're probably just annoyed that you're not good enough to play it.Schiff always comes off as one of those pianists who can only seem to enjoy piano music originally written for the harpsichord or fortepiano.