Dina Yoffe Reacts to her 1975 Chopin Competition Performance | Ep. 2 The Chopin Podcast

Watch Dina Yoffe's performance: • Dina Yoffe Chopin Noct...
Chopin Foundation: chopin.org
The Chopin Podcast: chopinpodcast.com
Listen to Episode 2 - Nocturnes:
Apple: podcasts.apple...
Spotify: open.spotify.c...
Audible: www.audible.co...
Hosted and created by Ben Laude.
This video is brought to you by the Chopin Foundation of the United States, which presents the National Chopin Competition every 5 years. The partnership was forged on the eve of the 11th National Chopin Competition, to be held in Miami in January 2025.
Tickets to the final rounds of the National Chopin Competition are now available:
ci.ovationtix....
ci.ovationtix....
The Chopin Foundation is a national non-profit organization founded by its President, Blanka A. Rosenstiel in 1977, and inspired by the first US Chopin Competition she presented in Miami in 1975.
Support the Chopin Foundation: chopin.org/donate
Steinway & Sons is the National Chopin Piano Competition's Preferred Piano Partner.
Access extended interviews with Garrick Ohlsson and other special guests on the Nocturnes: / benlaude
/ chopinpodcast
/ benlawdy
Special thanks to Abby Tilton and Mark Rau for their assistance in the production of this video.

[@bikedawg]

"My sound is my life." Wow--so true. Didn't realize it until she said it.

[@TempestInstruments]

Dina's interpretation is magic... the look of bliss on her face only adds to this performance. She seems so at free and at ease.

[@Radiatoron88]

I once heard Dina Yoffe's recital that she gave in Japan--somewhere in Tokyo, I think, though exactly where and when I no longer remember. It was an all-Chopin program, and her performance of the Polonaise-Fantasie was just stunning, absolutely thrilling. So much so that I actually wrote a "fan letter," though I have no idea if it ever reached Ms. Yoffe. In any case, a truly inspired performer of Chopin's music!

[@erickamen9184]

The phrasing/bar/harmonic structure that binds the entire poetic statement (Chopin) into a compositional whole. That's the approach in her playing. Beautiful dynamic architecture as intended by the composer. Love it!

[@BsktImp]

Wow! The visceral moment when Ms Yoffe connected with her younger self. Experience and life suddenly meeting head on with another time, another era. Deep, personal, existential. Chopin.

[@THCBach]

Pires also said, 'The way you play is an extension of who you are in life.' It seems to be a common theme among genuine artists.

[@sacrilegiousboi978]

Precisely this. I know someone who's playing is extremely technically perfect and consistent to the point it's sometimes scary... but there is zero emotion or passion, totally cold and robotic. He is a great worker drone, if you give him something to do with instructions, he will do it well, reliably and without fuss. But that is it. He has no goals or ambitions, burning desires or great emotions about much in life. I know someone else who is the polar opposite - he is technically inconsistent and sloppy, prone to memory lapses, wrong notes etc. BUT his playing is also full of life with deep and intense feelings, passion and emotion. His life is very chaotic and messy. BUT he has lots of opinions, ideas, burning passions and goals in life.

[@rgferreira78]

Ben, it's just incredible that you release these wonderful videos for free, they are like precious jewels. So a big thanks to you.

[@sergiosala640]

No doubt. Channel's pure gold.

[@gregoberski5897]

Really love all this attention on this B Major Nocturne; when I first heard it I knew I felt like I had discovered buried treasure. What sublime, elegant beauty. I'm equally in love with its E Major partner!

[@hurricane_hazel]

Her performance is so pure and beautiful. What a joy.

[@jimk9290]

Gorgeous rendition. The control of the different lines with regard to dynamics is marvelous. Clear, transparent, fully musical.

[@nickk8416]

This is so wonderful I can't tell you. Watching her brought tears to my eyes wondering what she was thinking. To see her look back at her life and younger years must have been a profound experience. Of course she was criticizing herself while watching but it was an amazing, beautiful performance. I wonder what I would have thought looking back at myself 50 years ago on my life? WOW! Great video. Thanks.

[@Daniel_Zalman]

Love what you're doing with your channel, Ben. Good Yontif!

[@micheldupaul7768]

How to maintain such expressive intensity after so many hours of practice. Thank you for this wonderful moment of great music.

[@HappyGoLuckyPanda]

Having pianists reflecting on their performances is a great format

[@Zympans]

People just sitting on the floor, everywhere. Not that safe of course, but the atmosphere seems to be amazing.

[@ronl7131]

Beautiful Artistry. Interesting for performer to look back over 50 years….

[@songadayguy]

To see the current Dina, juxtaposed her a a young performer was profound. You also show a great respect for age. You never know who the person sitting next to you is or was. Especially someone as humble as she . I live in Miami so might just show up at the 2025 competition!

[@dietmarfalke1099]

Beautiful!

[@militaryandemergencyservic3286]

what a lovely nocturne that first one is she plays (though it is longer than the longest nocturne anyone can imagine a nocturne to be).

[@bifeldman]

Wonderful. And how exalted is the current level of playing.

[@micheldupaul7768]

Magnificent! !

[@elias-axelpettersson7292]

Yoffe or Joffe, with a long “o”, like “Yo-feh” ;) Unless she’s stated otherwise more recently. What a beautiful singing tone and forward momentum without rushing.

[@elias-axelpettersson7292]

She is also one of the most sincere artists I’ve ever known or heard.

[@davecorry7723]

Aww. How nice.

[@kevinfitzpatrick8431]

Now you understand La ng Lang pure sincerity.

[@_melzargard]

Wow - stirring video.

[@pianofings]

With respect to 10:00 -- wondering if Yoffe had made exactly what kinds of gestures, then you would have said something like "you were about showbiz and facial gesticulations"?

[@bennyksmusicalworld]

Can’t believe that crystal clear footage was almost a half century ago… technology and time really fly!

[@gatesurfer]

Probably used movie quality film stock. See the camera in the wide shot. That’s no handheld video cam. And a real cameraman operating it, not somebody off the street holding up,their cellphone and letting the automatic settings do all the work.

[@gojewla]

I was just wondering - is she playing on a Steinway?

[@papagen00]

Too many music competitions. We don't have a crisis of great musicians. We have a crisis of great composers. Most of competition winners quickly fall into oblivion,.. such as Dina Yoffe.

[@batboy5023]

It's so true. I wonder what the problem is. The only time we get music that is even remotely in a similar plane to classical is for film and game score. You know what I think the advent of the drum set ruined music. I feel like ever since it came about EVERY single song had to be just a loop of a phrase held up by a drum beat.

[@batboy5023]

Such unsophisticated music.

[@amber40494]

The music world is run by a few elites. They control the competitions and the commissions to composers. It requires alot of money.

[@kerstinl8519]

@@amber40494Thanks. I didn‘t know that.

[@d-synt]

Are you joking? She’s internationally known!

[@kunfupapa8162]

What strikes me in this performance, beside its sheer and beautiful sincerity, is the lack of dynamics. The different tempi are rightfully respected, but the sound volume remains pretty equal from start to finish. From that aesthetic standpoint, I wish there were more variations (but I don't forget that this is also a stressful piano competition). I'm convinced that a great use of dynamics (and pedals also) is what tend to differentiate legendary pianists from every other piano player. For example, just listen to Horowitz's rendition of this nocturne...

[@justadude641]

It was probably recorded in mono, not in stereo. Anyhow, recordings don't do justice to live performances, she probably sounded better in the hall!

[@kunfupapa8162]

@@justadude641 Thank you for your kind reply but, in my opinion, the most badly recorded performances (for having listened to quite a few of them) don't erase changes of sound volume when pianists actually use dynamics.

[@eiagmusic]

​@@kunfupapa8162I was going to vehemently defend her and pontificate about how KZbin compresses the sound, further exacerbated by phone/pad/laptop speakers. But, then I went and listened to the Horowitz recording on my phone, and yes, you are 100% correct. But, is it really fair to compare anyone to Horowitz? 😆

[@kunfupapa8162]

@@eiagmusic Oh I'm glad you went to the Horowitz recording ! I definitely agree with you, he is quite incomparable... Thank you for your feedback !

[@eiagmusic]

@kunfupapa8162 The voicings are, of course, heavenly, but there is something quite remarkable about his rubato; so freely out of time, while still being in time. How does he do that? Wow!

[@bradenpollock2008]

second

[@militaryandemergencyservic3286]

would love to have heard her rendition of scherzo 4 she said she also played. For me it is one of his best. it's my favourite. I'm sure she played it well. I think it's ok for women to make faces as they play - however men should all be stony faced and never smile or move their bodies at all.

[@eliasss8229]

A bit sexist

[@militaryandemergencyservic3286]

@@eliasss8229 yeah maybe....