Giving recital

[zalmanesd]

I wanna try and give a solo recital in a few months (5-9 months depending on when I can get the pieces ready)
What pieces do you suggest are good for such occasions?
I was thinking maybe some famous Beethoven sonata (perhaps Pathetique or Appasionata)
Then some Prokofiev, (maybe the Diabolical Suggestion or Toccata)
and then maybe some Chopin or Liszt (have a few random pieces lying around)

Its my first recital so I have no idea what type of repertoire is good.
I have lots of time to prepare however...but I don't have the technique to take on stuff like La Campanella.

[steinwayguy]

Well first off, how long do you want it to be- are we talking 45 minutes and you're done or two 45 minute halves?

For a Beethoven sonata, I suggest you do a somewhat-famous sonata- favorites of mine to use in recital are Op. 2 No. 1, Op. 27 No. 1, Op. 28 or Op. 90. If you really want to do a "famous" one- Op. 53, 57 or 81a are your best bets.

I don't know too much non-sonata Prokofiev, but the Toccata seems like a good idea, if you put another couple pieces with it, or a suite or something.

For Chopin- either a set of mazurkas (Opus 7 or 17, methinks), or three or four Etudes (I like using Op. 25 Etudes more for recitals) along with either a ballade, scherzo or sonata. If you want to do a Ballade, I say do A-flat (No. 3), scherzo- do C-sharp Minor (No. 3) or Sonata- do B Minor (No. 3).

If you want to do Liszt, but are scared of La Campanella- maybe "Au Bord d'une Source" from Les Annees de Pelerinages and Liebestraume No. 3, both crowd-pleasers for certain.

Personally, with the above suggestions, I would do-

Beethoven- Opus 28 "Pastoral"
*Some Prokofiev piece*
Prokofiev Toccata
-Intermission-
Liszt- Liebestraume No. 3
Liszt- Au Bord d'une Source
Chopin- Opus 7 Mazurkas or some Etudes (any of Op. 10 No. 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12 or Op. 25 No. 1, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12)
Chopin- Ballade No. 3