Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20 - Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)

Opening Concert 2026 02.09.2026 Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20 Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849) Yara Luna Jradeh, piano Composed around 1833–35 and published in 1835, Chopin’s First Scherzo belongs to the period following his departure from Poland and reflects the increasingly large scale of his piano writing in the 1830s. Although titled Scherzo, the work bears little resemblance to the light, dance-like character traditionally associated with the genre. Instead, Chopin expands the form into a dramatic, highly contrasted structure. The work opens with two abrupt statements before launching into rapid passagework in B minor. This material eventually gives way to a contrasting central section in B major, where Chopin introduces the Polish Christmas carol Lulajże, Jezuniu in a much more lyrical setting. The transition back to the opening material gradually restores the tension of the first section. The return is followed by an extended coda that develops the work’s principal gestures and drives the piece toward its final conclusion. The contrast between the turbulent outer sections and the sustained central melody is fundamental to the work’s formal design.