Composer:in 1810 – 1849 Frédéric Chopin was one of the most important composers of the Romantic period and is often referred to as the ‘poet of the piano’. His works, characterised by emotional depth, technical virtuosity and a unique melodic line, left a lasting influence on piano music. Chopin combined classical elements with romantic expressiveness, creating an unmistakable musical legacy that continues to inspire to this day.
Frédéric Chopin was born on 1 March 1810 in the Polish village of Żelazowa Wola. As the son of a Polish mother and a French father, he grew up in a culturally rich environment. His exceptional musical abilities became apparent at an early age. His talent on the piano was recognised early on and he received lessons from renowned teachers, including Wojciech Żywny. Chopin gave his first concerts at the age of eight, impressing audiences with his technical brilliance and musicality. His exceptional pianistic talent was recognised early on and he gave his first concerts at the age of eight, although he received little professional instruction. At the age of 15, his first compositions were in print, and four years later he performed for the first time in Vienna with great success. These early successes paved the way for his international career and his recognition as one of the greatest piano composers of his time.
The following year he left Poland to settle permanently in Paris in 1831. At the time, he had no idea that political developments would make it impossible for him to return to his beloved homeland. Paris offered him a fertile environment in which he found great recognition as a pianist and composer. He became a central figure in musical life and created many of his masterpieces. Frédéric Chopin was a contradictory man: a Polish nationalist who spent his days in exile in France; a musician who hated giving public concerts; a composer whose piano works were strongly influenced by bel canto opera and whose role models in the early Romantic period were Bach and Mozart.
Chopin composed almost exclusively for the piano and developed an unmistakable musical language. His 24 Préludes in particular, as well as the virtuoso etudes such as the ‘Revolutionsetüde’ Op. 10, No. 12 are among his most important works. His nocturnes, such as the [Nocturne in E flat major](Op. 9, No. 2)](/audio/album_85M64TBDBSSJ6E0), are known for their poetic and dreamy atmosphere. The mazurkas and polonaises, including the powerful [Polonaise in A flat major](Op. 53)](/video/vod_concert_APNM8GRFDPHMASJKBSQJI), are also among his outstanding contributions to piano music. His compositions display a rare balance of emotional depth and classical structure. Lushly melodic yet classically restrained, visionary in imagination yet tightly constructed, he was one of the most individual musical voices of his time. Chopin wrote works that are both technically demanding and highly emotional, including the dramatic Ballades, such as the [Ballade No.1 in G minor](Op. 23)](/video/video_APKM8PBFBSPJ8C8), as well as the imaginative Scherzos, for example the [Scherzo No. 2 in B flat minor](Op. 31)](/video/vod_concert_APNM8GRFDPHMASJKBSQ3EC0). His talent for improvisation was legendary, and many of his compositions were created in such moments of spontaneity on the keyboard. Chopin composed most of his works for solo piano, and the most beautiful of them - ballades, scherzos, etudes, mazurkas, waltzes, polonaises, preludes and nocturnes - may be quite short pieces. However, this does not detract from their richness of content, brilliant conception and emotional depth.
The last years of his life were characterised by health problems. Although his strength was failing, Chopin gave one last public concert in London in 1848 to raise money for Polish refugees. His very last public concert took place in London to raise money for Polish refugees. On 17 October 1849, Chopin died in Paris at the age of 39 as a result of tuberculosis. He died in Paris at the age of 39. However, his legacy lives on: works such as the [Fantaisie-Impromptu](Op. 66)](/video/vod_concert_APNM8GRFDPHMASJKBSQ30) or the [Berceuse in D flat major](Op. 57)](/video/vod_concert_APNM8GRFDPHMASJKBSOJ6D0) are an indispensable part of the piano literature and a symbol of the beauty and depth of the Romantic musical tradition.
