In Episode 4, pianist Garrick Ohlsson explores Beethovenian brilliance of Chopin’s Four Scherzos; silver medalist and top prize-winner of the 1990 International Chopin Competition Kevin Kenner reacts to his own performance of the Third Scherzo from Warsaw; 2015 National Chopin Competition medalist and proflic music educator Josh Wright breaks down signature passages from each Scherzo; and finally, music critic Jed Distler recommends some very special recordings of Chopin’s Scherzos from the past century.

This podcast is produced in partnership with the Chopin Foundation of the United States, which presents the National Chopin Competition every 5 years. The Chopin Podcast comes on the eve of the 11th National Chopin Competition, to be held in Miami in January 2025. For more, visit chopin.org.

Tickets to the final rounds of the National Chopin Competition are now available:

Each episode in this series is dedicated to one of Chopin's major compositional genres, and features Garrick as well as 1-2 special guests approaching the pieces within that genre from a number of different angles – analytically, historically, and pianistically. Follow us at chopinpodcast.com.

Created and hosted by Ben Laude.

Special thanks to Abby Tilton and Mark Rau for their assistance in the production of this episode.

Bonus Episode COVID-19 Edition: Managing stress and anxiety during uncertain times