Recently I was putting together a list of “pieces I could do” for next year — i.e., pieces for which I think I could create nice program notes for the SF Symphony. (That’s all being put together over the next few months.)
As I was doing my “pieces I could do” list, it occurred to me that I also have a “pieces I could do without” list — i.e., a (very short) list of musical compositions that, as far as I’m concerned, I would be just as happy were I never to hear them again.
So here they are, in no particular order except for coming to mind first:
Category: Big, bumptious, overplayed concertos:
1. Grieg Piano Concerto
2. Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1
3. Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2
4. Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3
5. Bruch Violin Concerto in G
Category: Overexposed vocal music
1. ‘O Mio Babino Cara’ from Gianni Schicchi. If I hear one more soprano wailing through it, I think I’ll scream. Unfortunately, being where I am and doing what I do, I *will* hear it again.
2. Anything from either Madame Butterfly or La Boheme.
3. “Ev’ry Valley” from “Messiah”.
Category: Piano warhorses that I never liked very much in the first place
1. Chopin A-flat Polonaise
2. Chopin First Ballade
3. Chopin “Revolutionary” Etude
So…really not very many, at that. (Interesting how it’s all 19th century music with the one exception of the Handel.)