How and why to choose repertoire well
The process of selecting repertoire is complex be it for myself or for others.
The selection of concerto or chamber repertoire is a decision making process based on many interests. For example Brahms' piano concerto II requires an outstanding French horn player and an excellent cellist, and of course a fantastic conductor for a successful performance. All those parameters need to be in place before conductor, orchestra board and soloist make this repertoire decision. (Of course patrons' expectations, finances and many other factors play huge additional roles).
The selection of solo repertoire on the other hand should be easy since it's just the pianist, shouldn't it?
This is my list of some of the things to consider when selecting repertoire for solo performance:
Will I be able to do both the work and the composer justice?
What work fits exactly into an intelligently designed concert program already containing works X, Y and Z?
Will my audience appreciate the composition?
Do I?
Can I imagine exactly how the piece should sound best?
Will I be able to make the piece sound good and structurally tight?
So I try to look carefully at a work of music and its surroundings before committing it to a concert program. Every concert and every carefully crafted program either contributes to further tire classical audiences, or it contributes to pass on the incredible spark only live music can ignite.