Frédéric Chopin (in Polish Fryderyk Franciszek Szopen) is universally known as one of the most influential composers in music history and is undoubtedly among the most loved. If you’re curious to know him better, in this article we’ve listed ten facts to help you learn more about the man whom many consider to be the pianist par excellence.
- The mystery of his date of birth
When it comes to Chopin’s life, there are various aspects that experts still can’t agree on today, and the first to have long been shrouded in an aura of mystery is the date of his birth. Originally from Żelazowa Wola, near Warsaw, in what was then the Duchy of Warsaw in present-day Poland, Chopin himself gave March 1, 1810, as his birth date when he joined the Polish Literary Society in Paris in 1833. However, his birth certificate states that he was born on February 22. According to the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, this inconsistency is due to a mistake that occurred during the registration of the document, and March 1 is currently accepted as the artist's birthday. - The origin of his talent
Chopin was born into a family with a musical disposition. His father Nicholas, a Frenchman who had emigrated to Poland, was a high-school teacher in Warsaw and could play both the flute and the violin, while his mother could play the piano and it is probably thanks to her that little Frédéric first developed an interest for the instrument. It is said that listening to his mother and sister play moved him as a child, and at the early age of six, he was already trying to imitate them and experimenting with composition. At the age of seven, he began to take lessons with musician Wojciech Zywny, but it wasn’t long until he had nothing left to teach him and Chopin was allowed to continue studying the instrument with great freedom. At eight, he performed in public for the first time at a charity concert, and at eleven he had the honour of playing in the presence of Russian Tsar Alexander I in Warsaw. - Life in Paris
Young Chopin attended the Warsaw Conservatory from the age of sixteen mastering theory, harmony, and composition, but he was still able to develop a very personal style. After a successful debut in Vienna in 1829, he moved to Paris in 1831 and the lively atmosphere of the French capital at the height of the Romantic period sparked his creativity. In Paris, the musician devoted himself to giving piano lessons (a very profitable activity that meant he wasn’t forced to earn a living by performing) and to composing. He met other renowned artists such as Franz Liszt and Hector Berlioz as well as, briefly, Felix Mendelssohn, and he also earned the admiration of Robert Schumann, who proclaimed him a genius after hearing his Variations Op. 2. - The political passion
Chopin felt a strong emotional attachment to his origins, and when Poland rose against Russian domination in 1831 and faced brutal repression, the artist couldn’t take an active part in the uprisings due to his precarious health and poured all his grief for the motherland into the compositions of that period. The most notable example of the pianist’s political passion is Studio Op. 10 No. 12, nicknamed “Revolutionary” by Franz Liszt.
- His works
He is considered one of the greatest innovators of the Romantic period and is remembered as one of the most important pianists of the 19th century. His creativity and ability to go beyond the limits of the traditional approach to the piano are held in such high regard that the standard he set is considered to be unsurpassable. He composed 61 Mazurkas, 16 Polonaises, 26 Preludes, 27 Studies, 21 Nocturnes, 20 Waltzes, three Sonatas, four Ballades, four Scherzos, four Improvisations and various other pieces, among which Fantasia, Op. 49, Barcarolle, Op. 60 and Berceuse, Op. 57 earn a notable mention. It is curious to remember that, despite enjoying an excellent reputation, during his life, Chopin performed in public just a little over thirty times.
- A modest genius
Chopin was particularly fond of Bach's music and encouraged his students to listen to it and practice his pieces. His main sources of income were the music lessons he gave: the fame he enjoyed meant that he did not lack money, even if it appears that he still spent a lot to lead a comfortable life. Despite everything, he was so modest that he felt uncomfortable asking for his due at the end of his classes, and he would look away when his pupils left the money on the mantelpiece. - His health problems
The Polish pianist’s astonishing talent was unfortunately not accompanied by equally solid health. Extremely fragile, he suffered from laryngitis and bronchitis and apparently also from hallucinations. At the time, the latter were attributed to his artistic genius, but more recently experts are inclined to consider them as consequences of possible epilepsy. - His relationships
During his short life, Chopin had a few romantic relationships: in 1835 he got engaged to young countess Maria Wodzińska, but her family opposed the marriage and the engagement was broken off. The artist's most lasting relationship was with writer Aurore Dupin, known under the pseudonym of George Sand, whom he met in 1836. They became a couple in 1838 and spent the winter of that year in a villa on the island of Mallorca, but in the summer Chopin's physical condition suffered a sudden decline and the couple had to return to France. They settled down in Sand's country estate in Nohant, south of Paris, and here the musician's health and creativity flourished, allowing him to experience the happiest and most prolific period of his life. The couple had many notable guests, among which often figured French painter Eugène Delacroix. - The split from George Sand
The marriage of Sand’s daughter Solange (born, together with her brother Maurice, from the writer’s previous marriage), put a strain on Chopin and Sand’s relationship, and the musician's mood darkened. As his worries increased, his health started to deteriorate once again, and it suffered a final blow when their relationship ended in 1848. Being proud in nature, they never reconciled although both wanted to. - His last wishes
Already ill, Chopin managed to visit England and Scotland and he made his last public appearance at the Guildhall in London, where he performed at a charity concert for Polish refugees. Back in Paris, he died in 1849. He was buried in the monumental cemetery of Père-Lachaise and a handful of Polish soil was strewn on his coffin as he had requested on his deathbed. His heart was taken back to Poland and rests in the Church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw. Mozart’s Requiem was played at his funeral.
Did our article inspire you to listen to Chopin’s music? Our channel offers a wide selection of classical playlists dedicated to his works for solo piano, the splendid Nocturnes and the best of his compositions. Trust us: if you haven’t heard them yet you’re missing out!