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I've decided instead of buying nwe music for Mendelssohn's Second Piano Concerto I'll use the Russian CD sheet Part 1 music I got. The choices that I have thus far in order of what I like are:

Rimsky-Korsakov C-sharp minor Concerto

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto 2

Dvorak Concerto

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto 1 (Too over played)

Any suggestions would be helpful.

What do you want suggestions on? Which of those 4 to work on? Or additional Russian Piano Concerti?

Regarding your list, I'm not very familiar with the Rimsky-Korsakov, but all the rest of those are really difficult - definitely a step up from your initial choice of the Mendelssohn. Make sure you know what you're in for - those are quite difficult concerti. My personal favorite out of the bunch would probably be the Tchaikovsky 2 - wonderful piece.

Hi.

I have Russian CD sheet part 2. It's a great selection I must say.
Those concertos in your list are indeed very hard and I love the Dvorak concerto performed by Richter.

The Rimsky Korsakov is a wonderful piece. It is not too difficult, overflows with melody, and makes unapologetic use of Lisztian thematic transformation. Highly recommended! I have no idea why it is so seldom played.

Tchaikovsky 2 is quite a handful of notes. There are two very elaborate -and one might say overwritten- cadenzas in the first mov't. I've always liked the concerto, though in the end, it doesn't have the spontaneity of the 1st. It is at least as difficult, though.

You won't go wrong with the Dvorak, yet I secretly admit to preferring the Kurz edition at certain places. Not very fashionable to say these days! Richter has always played the piece in its original form.

pssst -- Dvorak wasn't Russian. (Great concerto, though -- but not Russian).

Thanks everybody for your great replies. I think I'm going to try the Rimsky-Korsakov Concerto. I would love if someone has done this concerto to get some suggestions, especially on the runs in the beginning. I have a recording of the first movement. Also, to go along with this concerto I'm going to try and accomplish a solo work of Tchaikovsky, give me the order in which you would pick these (which one would you recommend):
Dumka
The Seasons
Eighteen Pieces Op. 72
Grand Sonata

The other choice instead of Tchaikovsky would be a Sciabin Sonata (any recommondations)Any other suggestions for solo Russian Works would be gladly excepted (ones on CD Russian Part I)

PLEASE HELP AGAIN THANKS

I would say definitely go with Korsakov. It's a wonderful piece, and not as difficult as the Tchaikovsky concerti.

Tchaik 1 is played a lot and for good reason. The introduction alone is a pianist's dream.

Tchaik 2 in my opinion is not a good piece. I think it's more difficult than Tchaik 1, but it has about as much depth as Rubinstein or Alkan (not much).

And yes, Dvorak isn't Russian =o) but it's still a good concerto. Why not play the Mendelssohn??? I love his concerti.

Which solo work should I choose [from above]?

I like The Seasons. There are 12 of them, and they're all short and of diverse moods and themes. In contrast to the long concerto, divided into three long movements, this might be a nice little treat for the audience, rather than presenting them with a second long, single work such as Dumka (which is also a great piece, but it is essentially one single work with a single theme, and might be too much if it is that + a long concerto).

Lhevinne made a great recording of the Invitation to Trepak from Op. 72. There is also an interesting Waltz in 5/8 in that set.

There are a lot of interesting little piano pieces by Tchaikowsky. If you do some exploration, you will come up with a really nice program. Stravinsky arranged many of them into the ballet The Fairy's Kiss. He also wrote a Concerto and a Capriccio which are good alternatives to the Mendelssohn or Rimsky-Korsakov Concertos.

The Dumka would be my vote. The Grand Sonata's difficulties outweigh the musical rewards (IMHO) and it really takes a Richter to make sense of it.

Isn't The Fairy's Kiss just delectable? The Concerto and Capriccio are indeed good alternatives, but we should warn that they are considerably more difficult than the Mendelssohn or Rimsky. Well worth the effort, though.

Maybe the Concerto, as well as the one for two pianos solo, but the Capriccio is not too bad.

Would a Sciabin piece be good alternative too? I was thinking maybe a sonata or Versas Le Flamme [how do you spell the first word]

Is there any Balakirev there? He wrote some good stuff, beyond Islamei.

Exactly what I was going to say.

You should listen to Richter playing Dvorak's concerto.