I think you need a virtuoso etude - IMO.

Yes, usually when an etude is requested for an audition, they're looking for a virtuoso etude.

A quick search through my recordings shows Rubinstein at 7:10, Rafal Blechacz at 6:37, a young Argerich at 6:35, and Horowitz at 6:22. So, slower than them, at least. If my small sampling is to be believed, closer to 6.5 than to 7 seems typical.

If you want something a little slower yet virtuoso, look at the third Stravinsky Etude.

The last recording I made of the piece clocked in at 7:35. So let's round up to 8 minutes, if we want to split hairs..



To Phlebas: No etude is specifically requested, but I understand when you say I should play a virtuoso study. I played through Pour les sixtes again.. it isn't easy, but it's probably not difficult enough for this audition.

You're still missing the point I was making - and it's hardly worth beating to death. However, I will ....

When an earlier poster said he played the Polonaise in 9 minutes, you said you played it slower, at around 7-1/2 to 8 minutes. My point was that if you played the same piece of music in less time, you were playing it faster not slower.

Oh, well ....

I was the one who said 9 minutes, as an estimate. I went on to explain that I do play it slower than most do, which as others have said is generally true. And you're right, it's hardly worth belaboring.

Thanks for the help everyone. After all that, I decided on something out of left field, of course.. lol. The Bartok Etude Op. 18/2 is slow in melody, yet it's virtuoso enough, contrasts enough with everything else I'm playing, and though uncommon, the faculty are likely to have heard it before.

That's the first thing that came to my mind!

How many etudes can you do for the audition? I love the last three etudes in Chopin Op. 25, and they make a wonderful set, if not completely exhausting. Op. 10 #1-4 also make a great set.