Frederic Chopin

Background

Frédéric François Chopin was born in Żelazowa Wola, a village near Sochaczew, in the region of Mazovia, which is part of the Duchy of Warsaw. In October 1810, when he was seven months old, his family moved to Warsaw, where his father took up the position of a teacher of French language and literature at a school situated in the Saxon Palace. Young Chopin received his first piano lessons from his older sister, Ludwika, and was later taught by his mother. His musical talent soon emerged, earning him a reputation in Warsaw as ‘the second Mozart.’ At the age of seven, he was already the author of two Poles; the first was published in the engraving studio of Father Cybulski, director of a school of organists and one of the few music publishers in Poland. The prodigy was featured in Warsaw’s newspapers, and ‘little Chopin’ became an attraction in the capital’s aristocratic salons, where he also began giving public concerts for charity. He first appeared in public as a pianist at the age of eight.

On 2 November 1830, Chopin left Warsaw to give concerts in Western Europe, and he never returned to Poland. At the end of that month, the November Rising broke out and his traveling company Titus Woyciechowski returned home to participate. Chopin remained in Vienna, while concerned for his loved ones who remained in Poland. He then visited Munich and Stuttgart, and in September 1831 he arrived in Paris, although his original destination had been Italy. He had already produced a portfolio of important compositions, including his two piano concertos and some of his Op.10 studies. In Paris, Chopin was greeted by eminent Polish exiles and was introduced to some of the leading pianists of the time. During his years in Paris, Chopin participated in several concerts. He also participated in the composition of the Hexameron (1837) – the sixth (and final) variation on the Bellini theme by Chopin.

In 1848, Chopin gave his last concert in Paris, as well as visited England and Scotland with his student and admirer Jane Stirling. They arrived in London in November and managed to give some concerts and ballroom performances. He returned to Paris, where, in 1849, he became unable to teach and perform due to his chronic lung disease. His sister Ludwika, who had given him his first piano lessons, took care of him and in the early hours of October 17, Chopin died.