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I'm not sure if anyone's interested, I will be giving my first solo recital ever in a little under two weeks' time (I'm 16, by the way). I'm a little nervous about it, and am planning to really knuckle down to polish of my pieces but here is my half-hour program (there is a time limit):

1. J.B. Lully – Sarabande
2. Bach – ‘Prelude’ from Partita No .1 in Bb Major
3. Haydn – Arietta and Variations in A Major
4. Beethoven – Scherzo in A Major
5. Mendelssohn – Andante and Rondo Capriccioso Op. 14 in E Major
6. Zez Confrey – Dizzy Fingers
7. Sakamoto – Energy Flow

Wish me luck!

-Peter

Good luck on your recital!

Could you tell us something about the Sakamoto piece?

Best of luck, Peter.

BTW, is that Beethoven Scherzo from his Op.2/2 sonata, or is it something else?

Good luck on the performance! I'd probably loose it and faint in public, or even private performances, where there are several people.

Good luck!!!!!

I have a couple recitals next month and I am also nervous!

Hope you do good!

Can, Yorgancioglu

Good luck to you.

The thing about solo recitals is that you get all the time you want to get relaxed on stage, so it will get progressively better as it goes. Very different from competitions and auditions, where you are supposed to be your best in the span of 15 minutes. Kind of defeats the purpose of it, if you ask me.

Anyway, as my teacher once told me, "If you can play one piece on a program excellently, then the recital is a success." Nothing could be more true - even if you do have some slips in a piece or two it surely doesn't cast a shadow on the whole program.

The Mendelssohn is a fun piece, and I've always enjoyed playing it.

Hi, Praetorian_AD!

You'll do fine! I'm wishing you the best in your recital!

Praetorian - good luck for your recital. I am also giving my debut on 1 September. My programme:

Schubert: Moment Musicaux in F minor Op 94 No 4
Impromptu in A flat major Op 90 No 4
Schumann: Carnaval Op 9
Albeniz: Granada, Seville, Cadiz from Suite Espagnole
Chopin: Barcarolle Op 60, Prelude in C# minor Op 45, Ballade in F minor Op 52
Wish me luck too!

Wow thanks for all the support guys! I really didn't expect to get so many replies. After all, I 've only really just started contributing to this forum - but I've been reading it for a very long time. I am actually really looking forward to playing the recital now...even if I do mess up a bit on the Mendelssohn, which is my 'big' piece (and yeah, it's really fun to rattle it off). I read about your recital, 'Mozart', and I love your program. I hope to play some of those pieces someday (The Chopin Barcarolle is on my hit list) Best of luck to you with all of it.

In response, the Beethoven Scherzo in A IS the early one, yes. I was considering doing the other early scherzo in C Major, but it's a bit tricky to pull off convincingly in concert. As for the Ryuichi Sakamoto piece, it was written in the 80's or 90's I think (he worked on 'The Last Emperor' soundtrack if that helps), it's sort of quasi-romantic with some modern touches. As I understand it, it was number one on the charts in Japan for seven weeks - pretty amazing for a solo piano piece!! (apparently they love classical music over there) It's quite well-known by sound, and although not a great example of music, it's very likeable and memorable.

Praetorian_AD,

Could you tell me who publishes the Sakamoto piece you're playing? I'd like to take a look at the score & I'm having trouble tracking that particular piece down. I did find a "Best of..." kind of book available, but it didn't have Energy Flow in it.

Thanks!
April

April, you can find it here:

http://renny80.com.ne.kr/energyflow.zip

Sorry, April I meant to respond sooner but haven't been able to log in to tell you where it was. Anyway, there you have it, and for anyone else who wants to d/l it, it's a very likeable piece, not too tough technically and a nice bit of light music to read your way through overall.

Praetorian:
Have you had your recital, yet?
How did it go??

Hey Yok,
Another Kiwi ! Where are you ?

Hi Ted,

I'm in Christchurch.

I checked my calendar and it's not until about a little over a week from now, on the 16th. I have a practice tomorrow though. I'll let you know how it went as soon as it happens. I've also just recently found out that I have to talk to the audience between each piece - I'd love to do a sort of Victor Borge thing, but it'll probably end up being just chit-chat about the composers and their lives.