Garrick Ohlsson: "Why Chopin? and Other Questions"

[@WesCoastPiano]

I see why this man is the ONLY American to win the Chopin competition. He's absolutely brilliant and this is the finest video on KZbin.

[@andrewc.1240]

I agree. He has a great sense of humor, too. He also posted on Facebook some (tonebase) links of him talking about other pieces in detail.

[@JLFAN2009]

Kevn Kenner *sort of* won the 1990 competition, insofar as he finished ahead of the other competitors. It's just that he was awarded only the second prize, as the first prize was withheld that year.

[@JamesRoberts-r5v]

@@JLFAN2009 😂

[@TwelfthRoot2]

kate liu and eric lu both did exceptionally well in the 2015 competition to place third and fourth. If you havent heard them play then i would highly recommended it.

[@moriscengic]

Why he won it has to do with politics. Poland wanted to join Nato. Simple as that

[@mr_tete]

You can tell he's genuinely in love with Chopin. He just lights up talking about him.

[@ElSmusso]

This video should go viral

[@l.matthewblancett8031]

its so great to hear someone else so deeply in love with chopin. me, too.

[@rupertsibelius7512]

"My kingdom is quite small, but within it i am really king", and his kingdom was the human heart. What a great marvelous phrase (26:22)

[@Seleuce]

He did actually say both these things. "Bach is like an astronomer who, with the help of ciphers, finds the most wonderful stars. Beethoven infuses the universe with the power of his spirit. I do not climb so high. A long time ago, I decided my universe would be the soul and heart of man."

[@PieInTheSky9]

I could listen to this guy for hours! Thanks for uploading this for all to see.

[@kristilyons8735]

So could I! What a folksy fellow!

[@carlosurbanejasilva1881]

Absolutely charming at the same time as scholarly.

[@stevebethhayward858]

Right? My Chopin playing will never be the same 💕🎶

[@LucBoeren]

He's a great tutor

[@jeffnunnally7225]

He's got a fanboy vibe I completely relate with. I would sit and listen to him talk Chopin for days.

[@Poeme340]

A consummate professional with the unbridled enthusiasm of a fan. Refreshing!

[@mauielectriccruisers]

I was in kindergarten when I first met the love of my life, sat next to, and glued my left ear to the ebony upright wall, and had visions of angels as the teacher played. No kid could beat me to that seat ever after. I was never given a chance to touch the keys, but watching this master explain the action, more than 50 years later gives me great consolation. Thank you..

[@Tristan-zt8tw]

Shout out to John Field for starting the nocturne thing

[@PianoScenesMoviesandSeries]

He actually deserves more credit. John Field invented the nocturne. Chopin perfected it.

[@musicstewart9744]

I'll need to look and find out how Chopin knew of Field.

[@hmangmail1687]

Field's nocturnes are gorgeous as well but there is just nothing like Chopin. Definitely listen to them though you won't regret it.

[@EmmanuelSikora]

John Field's Concertos influenced Chopin's to a great extent.

[@SuperTicklemonsters]

@@musicstewart9744 If I recall correctly, Field actually saw Chopin perform, they were sorta contemporaries

[@ondgaku271]

Ohlsson is absolutely right in regards to almost everything he says. Good upload.

[@liceous]

i love hearing pianists speak and to learn how they think and process music. such a great pianist and lecture (and lecturer!)

[@KenL414]

Garrick is just so fascinating to listen to - I've learned so much about the piano and music in general from videos featuring him. I didn't think it was possible but I came away from this particular one in even more awe of Chopin than I already was.

[@luvenasusanto6938]

It’s such a delight to hear him speak! I feel his passion and feel so inspired 😊

[@AnnathePiana]

My God I could listen to him talk and play all day.

[@mrnarason]

16:00 great point about how Chopin took into consideration the hands, I think he said that the ring finger was the weakest so he composed for it accordingly. Also Chopin said the c major scale shouldn't be learned first because the fingering is apparently more difficult then other scales.

[@donaldaxel]

That is right, Chopin placed the student's hand on B major scale, E F# G# A# B (12345) and emphasized that is the natural. I have for decades sought to find the way Chopin's technique prioritizeds fingering and the former Polish Urtext, Paderewsky edition, is brillant showing Chopin's fingering in cursive and helping with normal typeface places where Chopin's fingering is missing or not the only solution. But Ohlsson is *so* right about Chopin not striving for impossible equality between fingers - and that does NOT imply that he played scales or runs with unbalanced, irregular accents! (haha, of course) - he had a sharp ear for egalite/legato. So you need to listen and compensate for the fourth and fifth fingers being "under-dogs".

[@curtisgrindahl446]

Exquisite way to spend an hour... what a delightful man... I love his mind, his passion and of course, his brilliance at the piano. Thanks KZbin for dropping this in my queue after first introducing me to Garrick Ohlsson in another video. You've hooked me... 👹

[@arpeggiomikey]

I've crossed paths with Garrick a number of times through the years; I even had the privilege of playing for him on one amazing -- and a bit nerve-wracking -- occasion, and I've always come away feeling musically, and spiritually, enriched. A very kind, humble and witty man, his great music-making has been a blessing throughout much of my concert going experience. 😁👍🎼🎶🎹

[@jonathanrowe1368]

Every time he says "Sorry, I'm not warmed up." I die a little.

[@SoniListon-lu4cn]

In a words of cole porter 😂

[@RWinkley02124]

One of the best renditions of the Nocturne (and deconstructions) I've heard - so beautiful!

[@catcadenza2493]

I enjoyed that very much. One of my piano students attended Mr. Ohlsson’s concert here in Seattle November 8, 2023 and he said it was incredible!

[@metteholm4833]

This is fantastic, Garrick Ohlsson. Thank you! Molto!

[@premierepasta1562]

Woah! That was the best execution of the D-flat Nocturne I've ever heard!

[@eddiebeato5546]

Garrick Ohlsson is alike brilliant and delightful!!! Thanks for posting!

[@John-thinks]

I would say A leading interpreter of the work of Chopin. “THE” leading interpreter is extremely bold and hasn’t been a title anyone’s been truly incontestably worthy of since Rubinstein

[@anesthesiabeyond8519]

What a great analysis of Chopin’s works by an expert! Understood and learned a lot more! Thanks 🙏🙏🙏

[@Chopin4321]

full of wisdom and beauty...muses all around...he really loves chopin... thank you, such a simple wise trick he gives at 54:08 ..." that´s what I would like to sound...take the difficulty out of the thing, and hear what you want the music to do, and then figure out how to make your hand do that..."

[@unownnnn]

Amazing we get this knowledge freely. Thank you

[@coloraturaElise]

I'm a musician (voice, clarinet, sax, flute), but not a pianist, and am really enjoying this. When I listen to Chopin, I hear someone who understood the piano more than any other composer I can think of, meaning he knew what the piano could do, that it had not done yet, but he could hear it in his head, and he made it happen....those colors, those sounds....amazing! btw, to hear that Chopin loved bel canto opera makes perfect sense to me, since that's my area of specialty, and of course, explains why I love his music so much. Mr. Ohlsson mentions that you can't sing his melodies because the range is too wide, and in fact, being a coloratura soprano, I tried the experiment! He was right.....it's too rangy to sound good.

[@beatlessteve1010]

I love any talk about Chopin ..his music is just that inspiring.

[@markus7894]

He is so well spoken! And beautiful very clear hearing examples! Thanks for posting!

[@nicksartino]

Op 27 no 2. is the greatest piece of music of all time. Mr. Ohlsson understands the delicacy of the piece perfectly

[@chrisconnor8086]

Ballade no 3…

[@juliusholstein2376]

@@chrisconnor8086 grande polonaise op.22

[@landryessono8267]

Barcarolle Op 60

[@buddydog1956]

@@landryessono8267 I agree, and with Op.27 No.2 , second ~

[@PJGRAND]

To me Chopin is the King of Piano Composers

[@PhillipLWilcher]

Thank you Thomas for sharing this with me. Ohlsson is insightful, eloquent and satisfying! Wonderful!

[@mrusso8]

This is absolutely brilliant, thank you so much for sharing it.

[@bobomber]

This guy is quite entertaining to listen to. Full of insight and clearly loves what he does. Doesn't hurt that he's playing my favorite Nocturne.

[@GregorioGomezjewelrydesinger]

Im just a listener , and i love Chopin Music . I heard Chopin nocturne 2 opus 9 when i was 10 and i still love it . Thank you

[@bernamej]

Oh man. What a blessing ! If there was a 48 hours chopinothon lecture hosted by Olssohn i wouldn’t miss a second of it. 30 years ago, I discovered Chopin, and it was a cosmic revelation to me. Today, whenever i want to feal that fire burning, I turn to Chopin either in music or in discussion. I try not to listen to his music too much, to preserve it. But I can never have enough musician commentaries about the man and his music. If I could meet one man on this earth it would be a close call between Jesus, Chopin and Hitler.

[@juliusholstein2376]

Good picks, lmao.

[@Tom-iv5pw]

Why in God's name would you want to meet Mr. H?

[@bellatopia9660]

I totally agree with what you wrote except meeting H..?? 😂

[@Michelle6998832]

Why the need to be or at leat try to appear intimidating? You wrote such heartfelt emotions you feel towards Mr. Chopin & his works, so why the Gun pointing icon & meeting Hittler? Sorry, I know that's non of my business but I do have a honest sort of curiosity to understand in a human level such statement. I see you're well over 30 (according to your comment), so it's fair to assume you're well over 30 yourself? I'm 37 & I'd love to hear your true answer. Thanks.

[@bernamej]

@@Michelle6998832 I don’t see the controversy just saying that Chopin is on my top 3 human beings I would love to see, and know personnaly.

[@annettearena3218]

I got here from seeing Garrick on an old Duck Cavett show. Garrick had just won the competition in Poland. Interesting to see him in this video! Wonderful pianist and speaker!

[@MullahSteinberg]

Mr Olson thank you for your time and insight

[@rupertsibelius7512]

isn´t it Chopin an architect of poetry for the heart and soul? a unique architect of this sort, never before or after heard about? sorry for being so obvious but i cant find the right words

[@royschwaben9646]

Ohlsson: I'd like to play it for you, if I may. *closes sheet music* *plays from memory* lol. What a wonderful lecture! Thanks for publishing. This kind of content makes the internet great.

[@esprit-critique]

What a wonderful and insightful conference by this great pianist!!! So many fine comments that it is intoxicating! It is always interesting to shed light on Chopin's art so subtle and often misunderstood by comparing him with other composers.

[@wrsdes]

Thank you for this venerated knowledge video. Bless you Gentlemen !

[@TwelfthRoot2]

regarding the question at 1:18:00 it's been said that 1:18:50 rachmaninoff chose his openings (piano + loud orchestra) to get the pianist warmed up and remove some of the nerves before the more audible parts.

[@HAL_NlNETH0USAND]

By saying he taught 'Scarlatti' he meant that Chopin taught Scarlatti pieces to his pupils.

[@rysegs4498]

Maybe he was mistook Scarlatti for Scriabin but that wouldn’t make any sense either since the latter was born in 1872.

[@LongDriveChamp03]

At 1:16:20 did anybody else expect the guy to say Alkan's name? Because Alkan and Chopin were best friends and both wrote almost exclusively for the piano.

[@SuperTicklemonsters]

We need more discussion of Alkan today. He mentioned earlier how Chopin was a music snob, well he loved him some Alkan!

[@VallaMusic]

love GO, love Chopin Chopin's music revealed what expression was possible when the masculine and feminine are balanced within

[@thienkimhoang554]

There are very good lessons for me to learn in here, not only for orchestration, but including the harmony language. I am listening to Lili Boulanger's music and have found that the colours of this work not only very close to Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy but as well as Bela Bartok. Because we can really enjoy the greenish pentatonic sound in here. I think I love it.

[@paulMcGlothin]

Truly great insights and playing by Ohlsson

[@abrahamjustice777]

Wonderful...thanks so much!

[@Mpompadour]

Bravo! This was most enjoyable. Thank You!

[@PhillipLWilcher]

I believe it was once thought that Chopin's music could correct any "deformity" of the hand, if studied, so great was his understanding of the hand's capabilities and what the hand could do. The other thing to remember is that Chopin's music, despite it being solely for the piano, was a vocal conception. His first love was the voice and the bel canto of Bellini, but he transferred it to the VOICE of the piano. His hands served as his vocal cords.

[@jkingenglish]

madness. just beautiful

[@PhillipLWilcher]

@@jkingenglish Blessings!

[@stevebethhayward858]

Thank you! Thank you!

[@AlexEckelberry]

Chopin is a musical great. There has been a snobbism about him -- and I've believe Glenn Gould, in a sense, dismissed him in favor of Bach. But this video really helps sets the record straight. Chopin was a great master -- one of the greatest composers of piano music in history. And even though much of his music is overplayed and, hence, trite, if you've played it, you know it's not trivial at all. It's quite masterful.

[@ThePianoenergy]

Thank you for uploading this. Absoultely great guy and pianist, unfortunately not so often heard here in Europe. Very interesting and inspiring talk.

[@briangharst3959]

Fascinating

[@falldog9]

Brilliant, thank you.

[@futureshock7425]

This is absolutely excellent

[@TheCierra1020]

I miss life and people like this..2024 this type of intelligence is unheard of

[@Tolstoy111]

He’s doing a great Chopin podcast now.

[@bm4114]

He says “sorry I’m not warmed up.” I guess I’m over here still getting warmed up after 30 years lol

[@akkapongsungkajuntra7828]

Thank you very much, I learn a lot of from you. Big Thank you. :)

[@David-R.]

Thank you so much for posting this.

[@toewomg]

This is such a fascinating clip to watched, what I learned from it gives me more ways to enjoy Chopin’s music. Thank you, Mr. Ohlsson.

[@erichuber9021]

Thank you

[@anne7core0]

Are there any more recorded interviews with this inspired and inspiring man.

[@coloraturaElise]

Yes

[@CheekyVimto08]

i'm really glad i found this thanks very much for uploading

[@costep]

Fantastic lecture!

[@JohnS-il1dr]

His Rach 3 was breathtaking. He makes it look "easy".

[@JamesVaughan]

Yes, I know that, it was his mother's country, and he was born there. But he was exactly half-French on his father's side, lived the second half of his life in France (and died there), was a French citizen, and signed his name Frederic-Francois Chopin. Throughout his life, however, he held a deep emotional attachment to Poland (and you can hear it in so much of his music--especially, of course, in the Mazurkas and Polonaises, but in many other works too).

[@michaeltierra6388]

Wonderful. Best talk on Chopin and the op 27 D flat nocturne.

[@danielfiori]

amazing analysis

[@JOTHYJOTHY]

beautiful playing!

[@PhillipLWilcher]

How he touches upon the polyphonic textures in the later Eb Nocturne (Op 55, I think) - yes! That's the type of counterpoint I spoke about with you some months ago that happens with Chopin. Ohlsson is so satisfying and revealing. Overtones - the inherency of the first note etc etc...... He understands Chopin's own understanding of sonority - how he speaks of singers and the beauty of sound, the magic being in the writing etc. The linking to Brahms and Bach! Wonderful!

[@wonderlin1]

Anyone know someone in Poland that wants to get postcards from the USA, & reciprocate? Chopin is alive in Warsaw - much to do there in said regard!

[@MrInterestingthings]

If only we could get other pianists talking about music , the piano and even pianos themselves . I wish there was a church where we could listen to Ohlsson expand expansively everyday !

[@DJNightRaver0]

where would some one find the program's from concerts chopin played?

[@helenrushful]

a lovely talk, with insightful and valuable comments, the performance of the nocturne is not ideal, but not his fault, a dodgy piano and mic positioning isn't helping. He picked a tricky piece to highlight, and his hands were not warmed up fully either. The other thing to take into account is the fact we are so used to hearing recordings of these pieces edited 'bar-by-bar' so every nuance is perfect. . . live performance is another thing altogether. . .

[@WiEar]

I agree. The piece did not become quite unified. And I think it was not only due to the circumstances you mentioned; it was also some lack of interpretation. It could very well be that Mr Ohlsson had not fully understood this piece, for himself, that is, because of which it never became really jointed. It reminds me of Chopin's comment on his piece on Polish airs; he said that he had never managed to give it a consistent form; it remained a kind of potpourri of Polish songs ... and I agree, though I always LOVE to listen to it notwithstanding!!!

[@johnireland6301]

This is a master at work

[@e.hutchence-composer8203]

I need to find these pianos that Chopin played on, to even be in the same room as an instrument that Chopin played on would be... like a dream

[@michelgenlis9893]

You would be disapointed as I was when I played a few notes on a Chopin's piano in the Cité de la Musique in Paris...

[@tue-hainguyen3632]

Love his playing

[@aldente1967]

Hearing the Nocture I recognized how far away and wich level Dinu Lipatti had reached in this short life. But anyway a very nice video. Thx

[@akelofgren9468]

Importante link Bach-Chopin,song-Chopin/,singing /women-Chopin,,for me so essential that l play Chopin,organplay Bach+romantic,sing much but also inside sing how even a pianopiece shall sound,Dreams of my love

[@JamesVaughan]

Yes--he left Poland around 1830, but unfortunately never returned. He felt a lot of homesickness for his homeland--you can hear it in his Mazurkas, many of which are melancholy in mood.

[@tajadd9446]

You can hear his homesickness for Poland in ALL of his pieces. They're filled with a certain type of melancholy only Polish people have. The mazurkas are named after an actual region in Poland called Mazury. People who don't know anything about Poland picture nothing when they hear these names and pieces. Poles see fields of wheat, forests, green areas, lakes (Mazury!!!). There's a certain mood of melancholy in Chopin. At the time, Poland was under occupation. It ceased to exist as a country. It was wiped off the world map. There was a certain (melancholy) Polish national mood during Chopin's time: homesickness for something lost. If you don't hear this loss in Chopin, you don't get the emotion of the piece. You won't get the sudden moments when the music suddenly picks up, like jerking someone around to wake up, an uprising. Technical brilliance is nothing if you fail to convey the emotion. I don't hear what I know I should be hearing in any Chopin interpreters. This is the Romantic period. His country is gone. Chopin is ill. He can't assist in the uprisings again the occupiers because he is ill. He writes pieces that sound Polish to boot. He goes to France, the country that at the time was the center of Europe. What this guy calls 'improvisation' in the mazurkas just sounds like a typically Polish countryside. This guy doesn't hear it because he knows nothing about Poland.

[@udonloews1301]

Mr. Ohlsson always brings in beautiful sound, besides being witty and A GREAT PIANO MAESTRO!

[@quinton1110]

I loved this!!!

[@IamKonstantin]

Got chills watching this... anyone know the bellini piece at 1:09:10 ???

[@danielpmp1]

+I-am Konstantin I think "Ah non credea mirarti" from La sonnambula

[@IamKonstantin]

+danielpmp1 You are right! that is the piece. Thank you soooo much Daniel!!

[@PhillipLWilcher]

His linking of Chopin to Mozart is correct. They share the same electricity. Given that, Chopin's foundation was Bach. Ohlsson is so great!

[@elmomazanis6380]

Anyone to suggest more videos with live piano analysis?

[@gerardbedecarter]

Most interesting.

[@gerardbedecarter]

A wonderful illustrated lecture !!!!!!!!

[@artymowycz]

I totally agree. I would never be able to compete in piano competitions and have a lot of respect for those who do. I would love to be able to effectively but I think i am more suited for composing.

[@amjan]

@37:03 Amazing words!

[@vanguard4065]

MARVELOUS!

[@zoup]

Very interesting indeed

[@polenc7167]

Wonderful interview. As an aside I recommend listening to Eben Goresko lecture demonstration on the tuning system actually used by Chopin. Check out how different, beautiful and colorful Chopin sounds in this 19th century tuning system. You will be surprised

[@wbiro]

He emphasizes getting the 'sound' you want - which mainly involves dynamic level, which makes me think ahead to the future, when dynamics will be scored not in the preset (and increasingly archaic) handful of piano levels, but in shades of decibels, where the trained pianist will master, and be able to recognize and render, many dynamic levels - I would venture to say around twenty. This would make for more accurate phrasings, phrase progressions, and phrase relationships... it is how computer 'pianists' are currently programmed, and that mentality will no doubt inevitably carry over into future scores for trained human pianists as well...

[@artymowycz]

I would give you the book where i read it "Great pianists of the 20th century" it does not go into detail, but it does say that he was discouraged from Chopin based on failure.

[@SirJamestheIII]

the he begins to describe @ 27:07 is an interesting observation about chopin. this technique by modulating through different keys which share characteristics is used by many of the recent virtuosic guitarists of our day. it is called pitch axis theory (popularized by Joe Satriani.) Say your piece ends with a C major chord. you have two keys to switch to that are tonally related. you have two options to modulate your key to: G major (E minor), or F major. Why? because of modes.

[@JamesVaughan]

The Prelude from Bach's Third English Suite, in G Minor.

[@rampgamercracka4258]

3:41 Hahahaha I love Garrick so much he's so funny

[@johnnytable9217]

who is the girl on your prof pic ?

[@rampgamercracka4258]

@@johnnytable9217 Remember back when people made their PFP a pic of the account owner, and not a random person, or Hitler? I haven't changed my pfp since back then

[@염철순-u2e]

@@rampgamercracka4258 falling over chair is not funny