Should I try to tackle these pieces or work on easier repertoire first?

[jlz076]

Hi, I'm currently in my last year of college and have a lot of free time, so I want to choose a challenging piece to try to tackle.

I grew up learning classical piano until I quit when I was around 12.  At that time, I had Rach 23/5, Liebestraum, and Fantasie Impromptu to performance level. I also played various Bach preludes/fugues, Chopin Preludes/Waltzes/Nocturnes, Mozart sonatas, Schubert impromptus', Joplin rags, and Tchaikovsky arrangements.

After not playing for several years, I recently became super captivated by classical music after hearing yunchan lim's Rach 3 around 2 years ago, and started playing around for fun again. I started out trying to learn the easy parts of Chopin Ballade 1, but surprised myself when I realized I could play through a lot of the difficult portions as well, and ended up being able to play through the whole piece at a decent level (only the coda portion was still not really up to tempo/musically sound).

I also started to learn Liszt's Sonetto Del Petrarca 104, which I feel is pretty polished now, and am playing it in an upcoming recital soon.

Around the beginning of this year, I started taking 30 min weekly lessons with a professor at my university (not a music school), and worked through Moszkowski op. 91 no.1, and am around 80% through Scriabin Sonata no.4. I've started to really enjoy and love classical music/piano now, so I've been practicing a ton and am highly motivated to continue improving/tackling other pieces.

These are some pieces I'm considering dedicating a lot of time to try learning (other suggestions are very welcome too!):

Liszt - Mazeppa, HR2, Mephisto Waltz, Harmonies du Soir
Debussy - l'isle joyeuse
Chopin - op.10 no.4, op.10 no.1, Andante Spianato et Grand Polonaise Brillante
(my favorites are Mazeppa, Harmonies du Soir, and the debussy)

Any thoughts or comments would really be appreciated! Thanks!

[essence]

Just go for it.

[the_franzliszt]

Just go for it.

You should do Nike Commercials lol

[thorn]

I tried learning the Debussy when I was at a lower level than you are. I played it again during undergrad and had to relearn many sections because my muscle memory was wrong, but got there in the end.

The only other one from your list I play is Harmonies du soir. This is the type of piece that needs a lot of maturing- you study it, then put it to rest for 12 months and come back to it, and repeat. So always good to start early.

[essence]

I started on HR2 at about 14, still can't play it at 72, but it is fun. It was way way beyond my ability at 14. I only played it because I had been given a record of popular piano pieces by my grandad and it was one of the pieces.

I didn't tell my teacher, There was a lot I didn't tell my teacher.