"Why Chopin?" and other questions

February 27, 2015 1:22 PM

In 2010 Garrick Ohlsson, the first American to win The International Chopin Piano Competition (in 1970), delivered an insightful 80-minute lecture (plus Q&A) at UC Berkeley about what exactly makes Chopin's music so great. Highly recommended for anyone that likes seeing people who are really passionate about something explain their passion.
posted by MattMangels (9 comments total)

This is excellent, thanks. Just sampled a bit, but bookmarked for later. For example, 30:00 to 37:00 is brilliant analysis combined with examples. Chopin always has been my favorite--both to play and to hear.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 2:16 PM on February 27, 2015 [1 favorite]

That was wonderful!

I'm reminded of the Whole Earth review for Nicolaides' The Natural Way To Draw "...not only the best how-to book on drawing, it is the best how-to book we've seen on any subject."

I don't think I've enjoyed a talk so much in ages.
posted by cleroy at 2:51 PM on February 27, 2015

This is a really good interview. Thanks for posting this link.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 2:58 PM on February 27, 2015

This was mesmerizing and kept my interest intensely all the way through. Ohlsson not only has much "head knowledge" about Chopin but a great deal of "heart knowledge" as well. He is not only a world class pianist, of course, but an articulate and first rate intellect as well as music historian. I think I may well assign the viewing of this lecture-interview to some of my private students. Thanks for posting this!
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 8:16 PM on February 27, 2015 [1 favorite]

Mod note: Edited "two hour lecture" to "80-minute lecture," by OP request.
posted by taz (staff) at 12:20 AM on February 28, 2015

Thanks for the great post -- best of the web, indeed.
Not very many talks merit my attention for so long a time, but this was worth every second.
posted by key_of_z at 1:36 AM on February 28, 2015 [1 favorite]

This was a great interview. I've been a fan of Ohlsson's since I was a teenager, so thanks so much for posting it!
posted by holborne at 12:21 PM on February 28, 2015

My highest hopes for today were to fight it to a draw, but that magnificent performance at about 1 h just saved the whole thing.
posted by thelonius at 7:15 PM on February 28, 2015

Thank you so much for posting this! I learned a lot, and have a new appreciation for Chopin. Plus Ohlsson plays beautifully.
posted by yasaman at 10:11 PM on March 1, 2015