Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821), born as Napoleone di Buonaparte, French army general, Emperor of France, conqueror.
Poland before and during Chopin's life
Poland had lost a vast chunk of its territory decades before Chopin was born, more precisely in 1772. The territory had been taken by Austria, Prussia and Russia. 1794 Tadeusz Ko¶ciuszko let a national uprising to regain independence for Poland, however the uprising has been smothered. Around 1807 - which is a few years before Chopin was born - Poland had been supported by Napoleon. Poland had existed as Varsovian Duchy - under French supervision, of course.
Chopin's childhood in Warsaw
Chopin started taking piano lessons at the age of six. Soon he composed, his father assisted him in writing the music down. Soon the word spread that his talent was extraordinary and he became an 'attraction' of the cultural life in Warsaw at the time. He performed at concerts held at varsovian aristocratic houses and as early as then, also in various benefit concerts.
At the age of 8 Chopin already performed piano concertos, accompanied by an orchestra. They sweettalked him into being 'the little Mozart'. Until 1822, which is when he was 12, he studied piano with Professor Wojciech ¯ywni. He continued with Professor Wilhelm Würfel, who taught at the varsovian conservatory. Chopin attended the high school, in which his father taught, for three years (1823 - 1826). Since 1826 he studied composition with Józef Elsner at the Warsaw Conservatory. That same year the Conservatory officially became a part of the Warsaw University, as a Music Academy.
Development of the Music Conservatory, at present the Warsaw Music Academy
Looking back we see that the conservatory's history reaches back to the year of Chopin's birth, when the conservatory was still in its cradle. The conservatory was founded to be a Drama School and a part of the National Theater. With the appearance of Elsner as music teacher, the School became a Music School, and later a conservatory - a school of higher level. Since 1821 the school was named Institute for music and recitation, or conservatory, and had become a part of the Warsaw University. 1831 the conservatory ceased to exist after the uprising. It had not existed for 30 years until 1861, when it was reborn as Institute for music, and as such, the academy functioned until 1918 when Poland finally gained independence. After 1918 it bacem the national Music Academy, and was named Conservatory. During World War II, in 1944, the building in Okolnik street has been destroyed. A new building rose on its place in 1966. That building is still being used, and the conservatory is now named The Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music and is placed at Okolnik street 2, in Warsaw.
Travel and emmigration from Poland
In 1829 Chopin had visited Vienna where he held a few concerts. In 1829 and 1830, when he was 19 and 20, he compsosed his tow piano concertos and performed them on several concerts in Warsaw nad Vienna. Just as he was in Vienna in 1830, the news of the November uprising in Poland hit him and he decided never to return to Poland again.
The November uprising was an armed rebellion against the Russian dominance in Poland. It had begun on 30th November 1830 organized by a group of young attendands of the Officer's School in Warsaw. A large number of the Polish population joined them and supported them. Although occasionally there were a few minor successes, the uprising was smothered by the Russian army, superior in quantity to the Polish rebels.
Before settling in Paris, he visited Germany, where he heard the news of the Russian occupation of Poland.
Life in Paris
Chopin had mostly worked and lived in Paris since he was 20. As his father was French, who emmigrated to Poland a long time before his son was born, and Frédéric Chopin has been working in France for the next 19 years, until his death, Chopin soon accepted and used the French version of his name. Chopin's Polish name was Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin, and the French version - widely accepted and used up to date in most cases is Frédéric François Chopin, mostly using only his first name and surname - Frédéric Chopin.
In Paris Chopin composed, almost exclusively for piano, played at concerts and taught piano. He dedicated many of his concerts to benefit and charity causes, especially after the huge wave of Polish refugees emerged. At the various social events he met other important pianists and composers of that time, although he always tried to avoid large gatherings. He preferred the intimacy of small circles of friends and acquaintances. Even his concerts - public concerts with large audiences became a rarity. His popularity and public acknowledgment and recognition of his work and talent were very high at that time.
Chopin's music
One can rarely encounter a pianist who has not played Chopin at least once in his lifetime or on numerous occasions. The poet of the piano, as they called Chopin, the compsoer completely dedicated to 'his' instrument of choice - the piano, left an array of masterpieces behind him. Barcarola, Polonaise, Preludes, Nocturnes, Etudes, Waltzes, Ballades, Piano Concerti make many hearts around the world melt.
Some of the world famous contemporary or 20th century pianists have made a name for themselves playing Chopin's works. Among them are Arthur Rubinstein (1887 - 1982), Maurizio Pollini (1942-), Ivo Pogoreliæ (1958-), Martha Argerich (1941-), Claudio Arrau (1903-1991), Vladimir Horowitz (1903-1989), Vladimir Ashkenazy (1937-)), Evgeny Kissin (1971-).
Arthur Rubinstein said about Chopin's music: 'His music conquors the most varied audience. Men and women throughout the world know his music. They love it. They are touched by it.
Social and private life
In his seclusion or shyness of large audiences Chopin was the exact opposite of the extrovert Franz Liszt, the Hungarian-born compsoer and pianist, who worked and performed all over Europe. Besides Franz Liszt, Chopin met and closed friendships with composers Hector Berlioz, Felix Mendelssohn, Vincenzo Bellini and other artists - painters, writers.
In 1835 after seeing his family off to Dìèín, a town under Czech governance near the German border, where his family has settled, Chopin visited Dresden, leipzig and then Paris. In Leipzig he met Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann - a pianist and composer as well as Clara Wieck, the future Mrs Schumann, a pianist and composer.
Maria Wodzinska
1836 he was engaged to the then 17-year old Maria Wodziñska, hoping to marry her. Unfortunately enough, her parents, in particular her mother, have withdrawn the hand of their daughter, a year after the engagement was announced. Chopin was hurt deeply.
George Sand
In autumn 1836 at a private party he met George Sand, the controversial French lady writer. Her real name was Amandine-Aurore Lucile Dupin, Countess Dudevant. After the first encounter, Chopin allegedly commented on Sand with these words: 'What an unattractive person. Is she really a woman?' A year later, Sand wrote in a letter to her friend that she is considering to break off a current love affair in order to start one with Chopin, as Chopin attracted her immensely. The love affair had indeed started after some time. The relationship was intense and it lasted until 1847. Chopin had been very productive in that time and composed a lot. Chopin's health deteriorated gradually during that time. It is considered he suffered of tuberculosis.
Final years
In 1848, aged 38, a year before his death, Chopin gave his last concert in Paris, and visited England and Scotland where he managed to give a few concerts inspite his significantly worse health state. In 1849 as he returned to Paris he could no longer teach nor perform. He died on October 17th 1849 in his flat in Paris. He was buried at the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, but his heart was, upon his request, removed and returned to Warsaw, In Warsaw his heart has been walled up within a column in the St. Cross' Church (Ko¶ció³ ¦wiêtego Krzy¿a).
Poland after Chopin's death
In 1863, 14 years after Chopin's death, Poland ceased to exist as a state. Poland was under Russian governance. Inspite of the uprisings hwich had never stopped, the true opportunity to gain freedom emerged only after World War I, when the Russians were weakened. After the Allied won, Poland gained its independance in 1918.
List of compositions
Here you may find a complete list of Chopin's work: http://www.chopin.pl/dzielo/opusy_en.html
Chopin lives on
The legend of Chopin and his music live on, beyond any doubt. Besides existing in the hearts of his music fans all around the world, there are places, events, objects even products bearing his name. The piano competition in Warsaw is to be mentioned, many societies dedicated to his work and life, tourist attraction in Poland, France and other countries, hotels, the Warsaw airport, the 3784 Asteroid and a vodka.
Movies
It is a fact less known that a few movies have been made, the plot being inspired by Chopin's life, like Impromptu from 1991, starring Hugh Grant, who plays the role of Chopin and Judy Davis, as George Sand. The film critics have different opinion on that movie. From 2002 there is 'Chopin: Desire for Love' directed by Jerzyj Antczak, starring Piotr Adamczyk (Chopin) and Danuta Stenka (George Sand). There is even a much older movie from 1945 called 'A Song to Remember'. Chopin's music is present in the famous 2002 movie 'the Pianist' starring Adrien Brody, directed by Roman Polanski.
Books
All the books are difficult to list, but one of the most interesting is surely the colletion of Chopin's letters.
