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Hmmm, I can't decide which concerto I should learn this year. My teacher doesn't want me learning one longer than 20-25 minutes, so I'm still a bit baffled. My three choices are the Prokofiev No. 1, Liszt No.1, or the Rachmaninoff Rhapsody. Do you guys have any suggestions regarding which is more difficult, or better for competition? (new ideas are definately welcome!)

Thank you so much guys,
Pumpkinhead

How many of the Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Mozart Concertos have you learned so far? You should have several of the earlier classical concertos under your belt before you go on to the harder later ones.

I've learned the Beethoven No. 2 in Bb Major, as well as the Shostakovich Concerto No. 2(which I won with last month).

Actually, I don't know if the Rachmaninoff one will be allowed after all, it is technically a Rhapsody, Not really a Concerto.

It just depends on how picky these people are. I'd enquire about that just to make sure.

Pumkinhead:

What does your teacher suggest is best among the three - if even the Rachmaninoff can be considered?

Regards,

The Rachmaninoff counts in every concerto competition I've seen.

All three are good standard choices.

I would do Liszt 1 personaly, it's my favourite out of the three.

Kreisler,
The Rhapsody was banned from Wideman last year, along with Rach 3. Of course you're right that it's accepted almost anywhere.

As for suggestions, I suggest you listen to your teacher.

That's because of the sheer overflow of both of those pieces that competition had in previous years. I'm glad they finally stood up to it.

I don't really know the Prok 1 too well, that may be to your advantage to play a piece that's not as played as the other two. I do really like Prok 3, it's one of my favorite concertos. G'luck!

Also I really like the Rach 2 concerto, I see that one isn't on your list

scriabin concerto is right within your time limit...its fantastic, not nearly played enough and world make a stupendous show piece for a competition, do it!!

Well my teacher chose those three, and wanted me to choose myself, even though she knows that I love all three. She was leaning towards the Prokofiev because it's on pretty much every competition list, as well as less of a time commitment. After all, it is only 15 minutes long. By the way, does anyone know where I can find some free sheetmusic on the internet for this piece? I would really like to sight read through the score. (I love the Scriabin too, Sandman!)

PM me your email and I'll send a PDF (2.5meg)if you want.


I played and won with it in a concerto competition last year. Playing it with an orchestra was a blast.

Thanks a ton Hepcat!

Doesn't it have to be less than 25 mins??? Rachmaninoffs 2nd is 35 mins.

da mach 3 b da only sheeyat worth palyin, fo itz fury alone, it b da tru mofo. respek.

Well, I'm already going to learn a Bach toccata, Beethovens Tempest Sonata, Mendelssohns Variations Serieuses, Chopins Aelion Harp and Ocean Etudes, as well as a Prokofiev Sonata or a Toch piece. That's a lot of repetiore to learn before next year, so she wants me to keep to a shorter concerto. Hmm, would the Rach still be better than the Prokofiev when it comes to competition?

Hey Pumkinhead -

One thing that you have to consider when doing concerto competitions (and I'm assuming the prize for this competition is an appearance with orchestra, if not, then my post doesn't apply) , is that a lot of winning depends on what the orchestra wishes to play. For example, when my teacher was a student she entered a concerto competition
with the Prok 1st and she would have won first place in the competition, except the orchestra did not want to put up with all the difficulties in the Prokofiev score, so they ended up picking
someone who played the Rach2

My personal suggestion would be to play the Liszt - that piece seems to run over well with juries in concerto competitions.

Liszt No. 1