Garrick Ohlsson: "Why Chopin? and Other Questions"
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- Опубліковано 8 чер 2024
- Winner of the 1970 Chopin International Piano Competition, pianist Garrick Ohlsson is regarded as one of the world's leading performers of the music of Frédéric Chopin. He is also noted for his masterly performances of the works of Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, as well as the Romantic repertoire. In his 2009-2010 season, Mr. Ohlsson has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the BBC Scottish Symphony, and the St. Petersburg Philarmonic, as well as the symphony orchestras of San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, Vancouver, Indianapolis, San Diego, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Baltimore.
Part of the Part of the Townsend Center for the Humanities' Forum on the Humanities and the Public World.
townsendcenter.berkeley.edu/
You can tell he's genuinely in love with Chopin. He just lights up talking about him.
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 UA-cam.
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.
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.
@@JLFAN2009 😂
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.
Why he won it has to do with politics. Poland wanted to join Nato. Simple as that
its so great to hear someone else so deeply in love with chopin.
me, too.
This video should go viral
"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)
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."
I could listen to this guy for hours! Thanks for uploading this for all to see.
So could I! What a folksy fellow!
Absolutely charming at the same time as scholarly.
Right? My Chopin playing will never be the same 💕🎶
He's a great tutor
He's got a fanboy vibe I completely relate with. I would sit and listen to him talk Chopin for days.
A consummate professional with the unbridled enthusiasm of a fan. Refreshing!
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..
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
Shout out to John Field for starting the nocturne thing
He actually deserves more credit. John Field invented the nocturne. Chopin perfected it.
I'll need to look and find out how Chopin knew of Field.
Field's nocturnes are gorgeous as well but there is just nothing like Chopin. Definitely listen to them though you won't regret it.
John Field's Concertos influenced Chopin's to a great extent.
@@musicstewart9744 If I recall correctly, Field actually saw Chopin perform, they were sorta contemporaries
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 UA-cam for dropping this in my queue after first introducing me to Garrick Ohlsson in another video. You've hooked me... 👹
Every time he says "Sorry, I'm not warmed up." I die a little.
It’s such a delight to hear him speak! I feel his passion and feel so inspired 😊
i love hearing pianists speak and to learn how they think and process music. such a great pianist and lecture (and lecturer!)
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.
Ohlsson is absolutely right in regards to almost everything he says. Good upload.
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.
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".
One of the best renditions of the Nocturne (and deconstructions) I've heard - so beautiful!
Woah! That was the best execution of the D-flat Nocturne I've ever heard!
This is fantastic, Garrick Ohlsson. Thank you! Molto!
Amazing we get this knowledge freely. Thank you
What a great analysis of Chopin’s works by an expert! Understood and learned a lot more!
Thanks 🙏🙏🙏
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!
My God I could listen to him talk and play all day.
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.
Op 27 no 2. is the greatest piece of music of all time. Mr. Ohlsson understands the delicacy of the piece perfectly
Ballade no 3…
@@chrisconnor8086 grande polonaise op.22
Barcarolle Op 60
@@landryessono8267 I agree, and with Op.27 No.2 , second ~
Garrick Ohlsson is alike brilliant and delightful!!! Thanks for posting!
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. 😁👍🎼🎶🎹
He is so well spoken! And beautiful very clear hearing examples! Thanks for posting!
I love any talk about Chopin ..his music is just that inspiring.
By saying he taught 'Scarlatti' he meant that Chopin taught Scarlatti pieces to his pupils.
Ok, I was like what the fuck? Domenico scarlatti is baroque.
Maybe he was mistook Scarlatti for Scriabin but that wouldn’t make any sense either since the latter was born in 1872.
This is absolutely brilliant, thank you so much for sharing it.
Thank you Thomas for sharing this with me.
Ohlsson is insightful, eloquent and satisfying!
Wonderful!
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!
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
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.
Mr Olson thank you for your time and insight
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
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...
Bravo! This was most enjoyable. Thank You!
Thank you so much for posting this.
Truly great insights and playing by Ohlsson
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.
Good picks, lmao.
Why in God's name would you want to meet Mr. H?
I totally agree with what you wrote except meeting H..?? 😂
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.
@@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.
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
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.
He says “sorry I’m not warmed up.” I guess I’m over here still getting warmed up after 30 years lol
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.
Wonderful...thanks so much!
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.
madness. just beautiful
@@jkingenglish Blessings!
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.
We need more discussion of Alkan today. He mentioned earlier how Chopin was a music snob, well he loved him some Alkan!
i'm really glad i found this thanks very much for uploading
A wonderful illustrated lecture !!!!!!!!
love GO, love Chopin
Chopin's music revealed what expression was possible when the masculine and feminine are balanced within
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.
beautiful playing!
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.
Brilliant, thank you.
Garrick is wonderful. The moderator struggles to form a good question and to ask it.
I loved this!!!
Thank you for uploading this. Absoultely great guy and pianist, unfortunately not so often heard here in Europe. Very interesting and inspiring talk.
Thank you very much, I learn a lot of from you. Big Thank you. :)
i loved this! thanks!
Thank you for this venerated knowledge video. Bless you Gentlemen !
Fantastic lecture!
This is absolutely excellent
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..."
His Rach 3 was breathtaking. He makes it look "easy".
amazing analysis
To me Chopin is the King of Piano Composers
Thank you! Thank you!
His linking of Chopin to Mozart is correct. They share the same electricity. Given that, Chopin's foundation was Bach. Ohlsson is so great!
Thank you
Love his playing
Met Ohlsson over 40 years ago at Hunter College in NYC when he played an informal recital at the music department. Bit of an angry dude...he's really mellowed. Of course when he played the b-minor Scherzo he practically destroyed the piano.
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!
Tremendous; riveting to watch and listen to.
F. CHOPIN SAVED THE WORLD!!
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.
Wonderful. Best talk on Chopin and the op 27 D flat nocturne.
Fascinating
MARVELOUS!
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).
Are there any more recorded interviews with this inspired and inspiring man.
Yes
Very interesting indeed
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
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 !
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. . .
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!!!
This is a master at work
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!
Most interesting.
33:00 no better words could describe that piece, for it was the one that made me largely depart from the works of Beethoven.
33:00
far better than you typical pseudo intellectual, this is so insightful; concepts, contexts, techniques, etcetera...Great
All I can say.. This guy has deep insight.
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.
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.
where would some one find the program's from concerts chopin played?
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
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.
One of the best piano lectures ever. Chopin becomes interesting and makes sense.
He has always been interesting and he always made sense
Smikkelbeer I was about to say that
Love Garrick's lectures and playing. His attention to detail is fascinating. I wish he would do more of these lectures. Wouldn't mind hearing an all Liszt lecture.
Smikkelbeer I think he means for the average listener of chopin or even the average player. A lot of people may understand what Chopin was doing with his music but as to how he did it before others is a subject less explored. In terms of musical theory, this is a great segway for anyone interested in learning more than the often misconstrued stereotypes about Chopin. I’ve listened to almost all of his music and I still learned something from this lecture.
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.
Mr. Ohlsson always brings in beautiful sound, besides being witty and A GREAT PIANO MAESTRO!
Chopin born in Poland, his music was Poland, he asked sister to get his heart to Poland.
You said that he is French?
he is at least part french. But yeah, anyone being serious would obviously say he is Polish.
His father was French. But emigrated to Poland and married Polish woman. But his music is Polish, hard to explain it, it's just is. Historically Poland didn't even exist when Chopin was born. But the soul of the nation survived.
@@joannaslabon2021 Poland didn't exist on paper. But live doesn't happen on paper. So Poland did really exist, but not officialy.