Sarasate Zigeunerweisen or Mendelssohn Concerto in E minor?

Question

I spent the last year playing and perfecting(although not yet perfected) Mendelssohn's Concerto in E minor. I started learning Zigeunerweisen by Sarasate about a month ago. I've learned and memorized the whole song. Although it isn't perfected, it's getting there. So I was wondering which piece seems more difficult? I don't want to be doing zigeunerweisen if I played a harder piece last year. Which piece would also be a better showpiece and an audition piece?

Answer 1

Are you doing the first movement of Mendelssohn? I'd say go with whichever you are more confident with. Nothing screams 'NOOB' louder than attempting a difficult piece and falling flat. Zigeunerweisen is definitely the better showpiece. The Mendelssohn is musically the more substantial of the two, but there are also considerable technical challenges - the octaves in the beginning, for example, can make or break the entire piece, and the cadenza can undo all your previous hard work if done badly.

Answer 2

Mendelssohn.