The Chopin Podcast

In this enlightening discussion, Claire Huangci, a gold medalist and celebrated concert pianist, revisits her own performance of Chopin's Etude, revealing the emotional intricacies involved. Joining her is Dina Yoffe, a silver medalist from the 1975 International Chopin Competition, who offers provocative insights from her vast experience with all 24 etudes. They dive into the challenges of mastering Chopin, the significance of interpretation, and the evolving legacy of these masterpieces, including perspectives from emerging talents like Yunchan Lim.

Episode 5 is the first of two episodes dedicated to Chopin's Etudes. This episode itself is divided into two big parts featuring Garrick Ohlsson, who will zigzag through the 24 Etudes based on the repertoire requirements set by the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw. The episode closes with music critic Jed Distler's recommendations for outstanding recordings of Etudes over 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: https://ci.ovationtix.com/1811/performance/11533416?performanceId=11533416 https://ci.ovationtix.com/1811/performance/11533420?performanceId=11533420 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.

Garrick Ohlsson, a laureate of the International Chopin Competition and the U.S. Chopin Foundation's honorary chairman, joins Kevin Kenner, a silver medalist revered for his heartfelt performances, and Josh Wright, a renowned music educator and 2015 medalist. They dive into the brilliance of Chopin's Four Scherzos, discussing their playful complexity and emotional depth. Kenner reflects on his own interpretation of the Third Scherzo, while Wright breaks down key passages, enriching listeners' appreciation of these intricate classical pieces.

In Episode 3, pianist Garrick Ohlsson explores the most tender, heroic, and even sadistic passages of Chopin's Four Ballades at the keyboard; gold medalist of the 2020 National Chopin Competition, Avery Gagliano, reacts to her performances of the 1st and 3rd Ballades from both Miami and Warsaw; Chopin Biographer Alan Walker returns to the show to tell the story of Chopin's Fourth Ballade; and finally, music critic Jed Distler recommends some very special recordings of Chopin's Ballades 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: https://ci.ovationtix.com/1811/performance/11533416?performanceId=11533416 https://ci.ovationtix.com/1811/performance/11533420?performanceId=11533420 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.

In Episode 2, pianist Garrick Ohlsson explores what makes Chopin's Nocturnes so seductive to our ears; silver medalist of the 1975 Chopin Comeptition in Warsaw, Dina Yoffe, revisits a performance of a Nocturne she gave at the competition; Irish pianist John O'Conor discusses the Nocturnes of John Field that inspired Chopin; Garrick returns to share examples of the innovative techniques found in the Nocturnes that Chopin appropriated from Bel Canto opera; plus, music critic Jed Distler recommends some very special recordings of Chopin's Nocturnes 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: https://ci.ovationtix.com/1811/performance/11533416?performanceId=11533416 https://ci.ovationtix.com/1811/performance/11533420?performanceId=11533420 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.

Garrick Ohlsson, a renowned pianist and Chopin expert, leads a vibrant discussion on the emotional depth of Chopin's 24 Preludes. Alan Walker, a biographer of Chopin, unveils the composer's struggles while creating these masterpieces, while music critic Jed Distler evaluates iconic recordings that bring these works to life. They explore the intricacies of performance, the influence of J.S. Bach, and the historical significance of Chopin's time in Mallorca. This captivating conversation shines a light on the intricate beauty and legacy of Chopin's music.

Join Garrick Ohlsson and Ben Laude for a 16-part deep dive into the music of Chopin. Each episode in this series is dedicated to one of Chopin's major compositional genres, and features Garrick as well as special guests approaching the pieces within that genre from a number of different angles – analytically, historically, and pianistically. Follow us at https://chopinpodcast.com In this preview episode, Ben introduces his 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, held every five years in Miami, FL. For more, visit https://chopin.org