I'm playing 2 pieces in the music school recital in a few days. When (if!) the polite audience claps after the first piece should I stand up to acknowledge, say seated and grin nervously, (no I mean smile graciously) at them, or just try to steady myself for the second?
The pieces are Pathetique 3rd movement and Grieg's Notturno, so very different in character.
(Of course, if the Pathetique ends fortissimo on the wrong chord, there just might be only a stunnerd silence ... )

I think it's probably OK to stay seated and focussed until the whole performance is finished but someone with more experience might know better than me.

good luck

Thank you, ad lib. Luck I shall probably need. Last lesson I forgot to birng my reading glasses, which I generally only need if the light isn't good. The light wasn't good Muscle memory should carry me through I thought. It didn't. There won't be any time to practice on the grand piano either ....
Spent today putting little stickers on all possible emergency fallback points!

The main thing. dorfmouse, is to stay relaxed. If this feels natural to you, you could introduce your first piece only and stand to receive your applause; then announce your second piece before re-seating yourself at the piano.

I went to a school recital recently, and a pianist played three pieces. She announced the first before sitting at the piano, then took applause still seated and announced her second and third pieces from the piano stool.

Basically, it doesn't matter too much what you do, as long as you feel happy with it. The audience will be happy whatever you do, provided you don't seem awkward or nervous. The secret of performance is putting your audience at their ease so that they are receptive to the music, so relax and enjoy it!

Thanks BM. I think I'm heading in the direction of staying seated and acknowledging with a gracious nod and smile. (The Queen comes to mind!) I think standing up will definitely be too unsettling.

I have seen musicians take the applause - stand - bow - leave the stage - wait a few moments - then come back to the piano for the second piece.

May be a bit much if there are lots of pieces, but for jsut two, should be fine.