Hi,

I am giving a piano recital of romantic repetoire at a small theatre near me and I was wondering if you would be able to give me some feedback on my selected programme.

Beethoveen:
Pathetique Sonata

Chopin:
Mazurka op. 17 no. 4
Nocturne op. 48 no. 1
Scherzo no. 2

-INTERVAL-

Chopin: Ballade no. 3

Rachmaninoff:
Elegie op.3 no. 1
Prelude op. 32 no 10

Scriabin:
Nocturne for the left hand Op. 9 no, 2
Prelude Op. 48 no. 2
Etude Op. 2, no. 1
Etude Op. 8, no 12

Encores (In needed)
Debussy: The girl with the flaxen hair.
Chopin Etude op. 10, no 12 (Revolutionary)

Do you think that it is too long?
Any constructive ideas would be most helpful.

First of all, congratulation for your exquisite taste and gifts. I`m a piano student planning to play a day not too far almost all the beautiful pieces you mention. Assuming that I could assist, I`m sure that I wouldn`t get tired at all, on the contrary, I`d enjoy your a programme a lot. But I`m not sure of your audience. I remember the story about the Beethoven`s concert having the premieres of the 5th and 6th symphonies and several other works, and after several hours of music, someone commented: "One can get tired of the good music".
I think it would be better if you manage that each part don`t reach 45 minutes. No matter how beautiful the music, it`s not easy to stay sitting and attentive more than that.

Hi Alistaire,


I love to give recitals now and then...Mostly for aged people in
Houses where they are really fond
of good classical music.
So I have some experience in dealing with programs and selecting
pieces, styles and composers.
Generally speaking I acclaim the
selection of composers as Beethoven
Chopin and Scriabine.
However, as my predecessor already
remarked, the program is too long.
Moreover I think playing Chopin
immediately after Beethoven before
the interval is not a wise choice.
You`d better save Chopin for after
the interval.
What about beginning with a prelude
and fugue by Bach(or two); or combining the Beethoven with that
marvelous Mozart rondo in a minor?
Or Mozart`s well-known fantasy in
c minor?(don`t remember the KV`s).
Or...a Haydn fantasy in c major..
A few Scarlatti sonatas(which, as
you probably are aware of, ate very
short but delightfully spiritual and vivid, ironic and charming).

So I would suggest a mixture of
Baroque and Classicism/Early Rom.
for the first part of your program;
then one nocture or mazurka by Chopin, followed by either the 3d
ballad or the 2d scherzo.
That would take appr. 15 minutes;
then the Rachmaninoff(10 minutes);
finally a few Scriabine pieces,
but not exceeding 45` for the 2d part of your recital.
It might be smart to play only 2
or 3 Scriabine short pieces and
conclude with something substantial. Or placing Scriabine
after Chopin(combining e.g. an early prelude with a later etude).
Personally I would choose a sonata
by Scriabine(but a rather short one). NUmber 4? Or 5?
An alternative: playing Chopin,
a few Scriabine pieces, and ending
on the op. 32 no. 10 prelude plus
the no. 12(id) for more speed and
drama; and finally the very lyrical and not too difficult op. 23 no. 4(d major); or even better,
first 23/4, then 32/12 and finally
32/10(for its mighty climax and
narrating and dramatic aspects).
If you want to stick to the elegy,
then i would start with it; then
the 32/12; and 32/10 for impact!

These are only suggestions!
Feel free to mix and experiment!
But do not exceed the 2 times 45`!