The Chopin Podcast
A podcast about the greatest piano music ever composed.
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Season 2 Episode 7: VARIETY SHOW
10/06/2025
Season 2 Episode 7: VARIETY SHOW
We’ve reached the finish line here in Season 2 Episode 7, dedicated to some of the outlier pieces that fall outside Chopin’s more well-known genres In this series finale, Garrick Ohlsson breaks down Chopin’s youthful and experimental Rondos; Jed Distler recommends recordings for a whole suite of singular and lesser-known works by Chopin; then come three special guests making their first Chopin Podcast appearance: bronze medalist of the 2015 International Chopin Competition Kate Liu will react to her beloved performance of the Andante Spianato and Grand Polonaise from Warsaw; GRAMMY Award-winning pianist Emanuel Ax drops in to discuss Chopin’s chamber music composed in the earliest and latest periods of his musical life; and we’ll finish with spokesperson of the Chopin Institute in Warsaw Alek Laskowski, featuring the story of the origins of The International Chopin Competition a century ago; to cap things off, Ben visits Garrick’s house one more time to ask him to reflect on this exhaustive survey of Chopin’s works we’ve recorded for this podcast. This podcast is produced in partnership with the Chopin Foundation of the United States, which presents the National Chopin Competition every 5 years. For more, visit . 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 . Created and hosted by Ben Laude.
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Season 2 Episode 6: CONCERTOS
09/23/2025
Season 2 Episode 6: CONCERTOS
In Season 2 Episode 6, Ben Laude and Garrick Ohlsson explore Chopin's two large-scale works for piano and orchestra, the Concertos; 2021 International Chopin Competition bronze medalist and Concerto Prize-winner Martín García García returns to the podcast to react to his own performance of Chopin's 2nd Concerto from Warsaw; University of Cambridge Professor John Rink offers a defense of the Chopin Concertos against their critics; and finally, Jed Distler recommends some of the finest recordings of the Concertos 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. For more, visit . 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 . Created and hosted by Ben Laude.
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Season 2 Episode 5: SONATAS
08/25/2025
Season 2 Episode 5: SONATAS
In this fifth episode of Season 2, Ben Laude and Garrick Ohlsson turn their attention to Chopin's multi-movement masterpieces, the Sonatas. Then, 2010 International Chopin Competition gold medalist Yulianna Avdeeva returns to the podcast to react to her own performances of Chopin's 2nd and 3rd Sonatas, before 2021 bronze medalist Martín García García joins the show to share his feelings on Chopin's youthful and neglected 1st Sonata. Musicologist Jeffrey Kallberg has some provocative questions about Chopin's so-called "Funeral March"; and finally, Jed Distler recommends some of the finest recordings of the Sonatas 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. For more, visit . 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 . Created and hosted by Ben Laude.
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Season 2 Episode 4: POLONAISES
07/05/2025
Season 2 Episode 4: POLONAISES
In this fourth episode of Season 2, Ben Laude meets Garrick Ohlsson in his home to explore Chopin’s Polonaises at the piano. Then we’re joined by a pair of recent medalists from the International Chopin Competition who will react to their own Polonaise performances from Warsaw, 2021 Silver medalist Alexander Gadjiev and 2010 Gold medalist Yulianna Avdeeva. Finally, Jed Distler recommends some of the finest recordings of the Polonaises 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. For more, visit . 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 . Created and hosted by Ben Laude.
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Season 2 Episode 3: MAZURKAS - Part II
05/15/2025
Season 2 Episode 3: MAZURKAS - Part II
In this second of two episodes on Chopin Mazurkas, pianist Garrick Ohlsson confronts Chopin’s most genius and epic Mazurkas; Polish musician Janusz Prusinowski reveals the living tradition of Mazurking through its diverse folk styles and instruments developed over centuries; pianist and soprano Chelsea Guo stops by to sing some Chopin – specifically, a collection of his Mazurkas set to text by 19th-century French singer, composer, and pianist Pauline Viardot; and finally, Garrick returns for an epilogue to this epic two-part episode, to reflect on a lifetime spent with Chopin’s Mazurkas. This podcast is produced in partnership with the Chopin Foundation of the United States, which presents the National Chopin Competition every 5 years. For more, visit . 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 . Created and hosted by Ben Laude.
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Season 2 Episode 2: MAZURKAS - Part I
05/05/2025
Season 2 Episode 2: MAZURKAS - Part I
In this first of two episodes on Chopin's Mazurkas, Garrick Ohlsson deciphers select Mazurkas from across Chopin’s compositional periods; music critic Jed Distler recommends some of the finest recordings of the past century; and finally, Juilliard professor Jerome Lowenthal listens to Mazurka recordings made by his teacher, the legendary William Kapell, and compares them to other luminaries of 20th-century piano playing. This podcast is produced in partnership with the Chopin Foundation of the United States, which presents the National Chopin Competition every 5 years. For more, visit . 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 . Created and hosted by Ben Laude.
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Season 2 Episode 1: WALTZES
03/12/2025
Season 2 Episode 1: WALTZES
In this first episode of Season 2, pianist Garrick Ohlsson surveys the many brilliant Waltzes Chopin composed for the piano throughout his career; world-renowned concert pianist Stephen Hough joins us to explore his own Chopin Waltzes cycle for Hyperion, recently released on vinyl; music critic Jed Distler will recommend some vintage recordings of Chopin’s Waltzes from the past century; and finally, pianophile and historical recordings expert Mark Ainley will tell the story of one of history’s greatest champions of the Chopin Waltzes, Dinu Lipatti. This podcast is produced in partnership with the Chopin Foundation of the United States, which presents the National Chopin Competition every 5 years. For more, visit . 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 . Created and hosted by Ben Laude.
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Season 1 Episode 9: BARCAROLLE, BERCEUSE, FANTAISIE
01/01/2025
Season 1 Episode 9: BARCAROLLE, BERCEUSE, FANTAISIE
In Episode 9, pianist Garrick Ohlsson pushes his oar through three singular masterpieces of Chopin – the Barcarolle, Berceuse, and Fantaisie. We're joined by special guest Eric Lu, who won the gold medal at the 2015 National Chopin Competition at the age of 17 before taking 4th prize at the International Chopin Competition later that year. Eric will react to two performances of the Barcarolle from Warsaw – his own from 2015, and his teacher Dang Thai Son’s from 1980. Finally, music critic Jed Distler will recommend some very special recordings of Chopin’s Barcarolle, Berceuse, and Fantaisie 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 . Reserve your seats for earlier rounds and purchase your tickets to the final round of the National Chopin Competition: 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 . Created and hosted by Ben Laude.
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Season 1 Episode 8: IMPROMPTUS & IMPROVISATION
12/16/2024
Season 1 Episode 8: IMPROMPTUS & IMPROVISATION
In Episode 8, pianist Garrick Ohlsson explores the wonders inside Chopin Four Impromptus; we welcome back Cambridge Professor of Music John Rink to introduce us to Chopin the improviser; and we’ll be joined by two classical-pianists and improvisers: 1995 International Chopin Competition bronze medalist and celebrated improviser Gabriela Montero, and Professor of Improvisation at the State University of Music & the Performing Arts in Stuttgart, Noam Sivan. Finally, music critic Jed Distler will recommend some very special recordings of Chopin’s Impromptus 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 . Reserve your seats for earlier rounds and purchase your tickets to the final round of the National Chopin Competition: 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 . Created and hosted by Ben Laude.
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Season 1 Episode 7: THE NEW WALTZ
12/05/2024
Season 1 Episode 7: THE NEW WALTZ
Episode 7 is a special investigation into the newly-discovered Waltz in A minor, attributed to Chopin. As the manuscript’s chain of ownership continues to be researched and more work is being done to verify the work’s authorship, we’re joined by three of the world’s leading Chopin scholars to share their expert insights on the long-lost Waltz. Beginning from a position of skepticism, Chopin biographer Alan Walker will pose five open questions about the music itself – confronting some of the unusual aspects of the score that would need to be explained before making any stronger claims that this is Chopin’s original composition. We will then turn to two scholars who will each offer explanations for those oddities and provide insights on the considerations and methods that go into the research on the printed sources for Chopin’s works more generally: first, Professor of Music at the University of Cambridge, John Rink, who was consulted during Morgan Library’s authentication process of the manuscript; then, the man at the center of that process, music historian and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Jeffrey Kallberg, who was among the experts commissioned by the Morgan to examine the document. 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 . Reserve your seats for earlier rounds and purchase your tickets to the final round of the National Chopin Competition: 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 . Created and hosted by Ben Laude.
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Season 1 Episode 6: ETUDES - Part II
11/25/2024
Season 1 Episode 6: ETUDES - Part II
Episode 6 is the second in a two-pack of episodes on Chopin's Etudes. In this episode, we will profile three pianists who have dared to walk the intricate tight-ropes of Chopin's Etudes in public: first, gold medalist of the 2010 US National Chopin Competition Claire Huangci will join us to react to her own first-round Etude performance from Warsaw that same year; then we welcome back 1975 International Chopin Competition silver medalist Dina Yoffe, who will share some provocative insights on the Etudes, drawing on her experience performing all 24 of them programmed in the same concert; and lastly, a look at the influences behind 2024 Gramophone Young Artist Award Winner Yunchan Lim’s acclaimed debut album of the Chopin Etudes for Decca. 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 . Reserve your seats for earlier rounds and purchase your tickets to the final round of the National Chopin Competition: 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 . Created and hosted by Ben Laude.
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Season 1 Episode 5: ETUDES - Part I
11/16/2024
Season 1 Episode 5: ETUDES - Part I
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 . Tickets to the final rounds of the National Chopin Competition are now available: 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 . Created and hosted by Ben Laude. Special thanks to Abby Tilton and Mark Rau for their assistance in the production of this episode.
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Season 1 Episode 4: SCHERZOS
10/26/2024
Season 1 Episode 4: SCHERZOS
In Episode 4, pianist Garrick Ohlsson explores Beethovenian brilliance of Chopin’s Four Scherzos; silver medalist and top prize-winner of the 1990 International Chopin Competition Kevin Kenner reacts to his own performance of the Third Scherzo from Warsaw; 2015 National Chopin Competition medalist and proflic music educator Josh Wright breaks down signature passages from each Scherzo; and finally, music critic Jed Distler recommends some very special recordings of Chopin’s Scherzos 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 . Tickets to the final rounds of the National Chopin Competition are now available: 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 . Created and hosted by Ben Laude. Special thanks to Abby Tilton and Mark Rau for their assistance in the production of this episode.
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Season 1 Episode 3: BALLADES
10/18/2024
Season 1 Episode 3: BALLADES
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 . Tickets to the final rounds of the National Chopin Competition are now available: 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 . Created and hosted by Ben Laude. Special thanks to Abby Tilton and Mark Rau for their assistance in the production of this episode.
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Season 1 Episode 2: NOCTURNES
10/10/2024
Season 1 Episode 2: NOCTURNES
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 . Tickets to the final rounds of the National Chopin Competition are now available: 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 . Created and hosted by Ben Laude. Special thanks to Abby Tilton and Mark Rau for their assistance in the production of this episode.
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Season 1 Episode 1: PRELUDES
10/02/2024
Season 1 Episode 1: PRELUDES
In Episode 1, host Ben Laude invites pianist Garrick Ohlsson to lead a tour of Chopin's miniature miracles, the 24 Preludes, Op. 28; biographer Alan Walker tells the story of Chopin's death-defying efforts to compose the Preludes; and music critic Jed Distler looks at some of the greatest recordings of the Preludes 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 . 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 . Special thanks to Abby Tilton and Mark Rau for their assistance in the production of this episode.
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The Chopin Podcast Preview
09/05/2024
The Chopin Podcast Preview
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 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
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