Hey gang, I'm in the process of choosing pieces for this year's program. Here's my idea so far, but I'm not completely convinced. Any suggestions?

Bach - Eb French Suite
Berio - 4 Encores
Albeniz - Iberia, Bk. 1
Brahms - Op. 116 (complete)

Also thought about maybe Mozart K. 330 instead of the Bach, or maybe a set of variations. Whatchya think?

It looks good so far. What about the Beethoven c minor variations? It is not very long (15 minutes or so) and is very good.

The you could also do another Bach, I generally enjoy the English suites over the French suites. (I am doing the g minor English suite for my next recital, with the Mozart k.333).

How about trading in 116 for the Paganini Variations? For my tastes, I'd like to hear something big to contrast the other "collections" that you have.

I heard Christian Zakarias (sp.) a couple years ago, and he played the Mozart D minor Fantasy segued into the D major Rondo, and then the E minor Fantasy (I think that's the key) segued into the A major (again, if that's the key) Rondo.
That might make a good alternative to the Bach.

Also, how about the Bach Italian Overture. It is not played as much.

If I were in the audience I would be glad to hear the E flat French Suite. It seems to be less played than the G, B min, E ones. Is it hard to start a recital with an Allemande though? They always seem a lot less obvious an opening than a Prelude or Overture.

I don't know the Berio at all. What are they like?

Are you going to end with the Big Day Out in Seville? If so you may need encores (other than the Berio)!

Hmm....Brendan's concern is noted, that's something I noticed as well. But, I wanna keep the Brahms as is.

So let's see...big piece to offset the little ones. Ginastera sonata instead of Albeniz? Or maybe a big ol' set of Beethoven variations (I was thinking Veni amore) instead of Bach and Albeniz.

Op. 116 will be the last half, so maybe:

Mozart sonata
Berio
Albeniz

*pause*

Brahms

Or....

Lotsa Beethoven
Berio

*pause*

Brahms

??? keep the ideas coming!

I am not a big piano expert, but as a listener, here are my two cents:
I found the liszt transcriptions of Bach/Wagner to be powerful and highly imaginative, so here are a few to consider:

. "Weinen, Klagen" variations by Liszt
. Tannhäuser transcription by Liszt

Bach's partita 6 in E minor.
The toccata is incredibly beautiful.

I think it's already a nicely thought-out program. Alternatives? Hmmm, I'd maybe keep the Brahms in the first half. Albeniz! Nice stuff. For me, an effective pairing has been to follow the Albeniz with Stravinsky's "Petrouchka". Of course, YMMV. Good luck whatever you decide.

N.

You should put in something by Liszt!

You play Petrouchka? Woah. That's a very rough piece.

Kreisler, I was looking at op. 116 last night and it's amazing how every piece is a paradigm of Schenker's ideas. It's impossible not to hear the interruption at the beginning of #2 or the unfoldings in #4. Even some of the notations that Brahms uses shows an obvious lead into Schenker.

Anyway, back on topic...

How about the Beethoven Eroica Variations?