Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Need advice on repertoire for a solo concert

lack of editing again, a function desperately needed on this forum. I read all replies and saw it is for a church audience.

While they have slightly better sit still stamina then the general population, I still think over an hour is too much.

Make it a fun 45-50 minutes, better to error on the short side then have the audience get bored at the end.

Hi Learex

We all have the ability to edit for ten minutes. I would be surprised if this length of time is extended, as there was originally a longer time and then it was shortened

Thanks Learux, that is the plan. Gonna plan for no more than 1 hour including intermission. Possibly an encore piece if its warranted. Most of the audience will be in 50-70 age group so I think they will be a little more patient than most (i hope).

I meant to post on this earlier. I agree with the conclusions that others came to. When I read that the concert was 1.5 hours for a non-classical audience, I figured it's unlikely it'll hold their interest. I would keep the Beethoven, Bach, Chopin OR Liszt selections. It sucks since a huge programme like this has taken a lot of work. I do recommend recording all of the works and maybe posting them on YouTube, although it would take a lot of effort.

Even as a fairly seasoned classical listener I always enjoy a programme where the performer talks a little about each piece and why they chose it or particularly enjoy it. Maybe your son could do this? Good experience - how to engage a mixed audience without patronising those in it who are knowlegable.

What a great idea!

Learning all the pieces was a lot of work but I can't imagine all the pieces were ever intended as a single program for any audience.

Both in length and type(mostly overtly virtuosic works) the pieces would not make a good, balanced program for any audience. The list seems more like repertoire learned over the last year or two. The OPs son will have the chance to play these works in future recitals so learning the pieces was not a waste of time.

You are correct it wasn't intended for a single recital. It's just what the Curtis teacher required for the full year of studies. It's pretty crazy because it's required repertoire for only about 7 months of the school year

As much as I would enjoy this recital, I think for the non listeners all of this pieces are too difficult to digest and like at the first hearing. I would definitely shorten the recital under an hour.
Definitely take Fantasie off the liszt. Start with norma. End with the ballade. Leave one or two mazurkas for the encore.

Oh don't get me wrong, I don't consider it time wasted even if the repertoire was never performed or recorded. It was challenging from post to tell what point in his piano development OPs son was. Learning that he's attending Curtis puts things a bit better into perspective.

My point was the list was not a "huge programme". It was never meant to be a program.