4. By the age of 7, Chopin had
composed two polonaises.
The child prodigy was
featured in the Warsaw
newspapers, and he became
the attraction at receptions
given by aristocrats in and
around Warsaw. Chopin gave
his first piano recital at the
age of 8
6. Chopin preferred intimate settings for a
recital, like the home of Count and Countess
Radziwil, as he didn’t like large concert
halls.
7. When visiting Vienna, he heard
about an uprising in Warsaw, and
decided not to return to Poland.
He stayed in Vienna after which he
visited Munich and Stuttgart Germany,
where he learned of Poland's
occupation by the Russian army.
8. At the age of 20, and
already composed many
works for the piano,
Chopin moved to Paris.
9. In Paris, Chopin formed friendships with Franz Lizst, Hector
Berlioz, Felix Mendelssohn, and Vincenzo Bellini.
10. In 1838, Chopin was already very ill
with tuberculosis, and had to give
private classes and perform in public
to support himself, having little time
for what he really wanted to do,
compose for the piano. His friend
Eugène Delacroix painted this
portrait.
11. In 1836, at a party hosted by Countess
Marie d'Agoult, fiancee of composer
Franz Liszt, Chopin met Baroness
Dudevant, better known by her
pseudonym George Sand, the writer.
Franz Lizst
12. Baroness Dudevant fell in love with
Chopin, and wanted to take care of
him, so that his health would
improve. They spent long summers
in her country estate, “Nohant.”
Frequent visitors were Franz Lizst,
and Eugène Delacroix.
13. Chopin spent 1838 to 1847
in Nohant, where his health
improved considerably.
14. In 1845, problems emerged in Chopin's
relationship with Baroness Dudevant and at the
same time there was further deterioration in his
health. These problems finally brought an end to
their relationship in 1847.
15. In his new apartment, Chopin composed on his last Piano.
16. In 1847, Chopin gave concerts in
England and Scotland with Jane
Stirling even though he was
severely ill. He returned to Paris in
1848, but was unable to teach or
perform. His sister Ludwika came
from Poland to care for him. he
died in his home on October 17,
1848.
Shortly before his death.
18. Nearly 3,000 people attended
Chopin’s funeral at The Church
Of The Madeleine in Paris. By
his request, Mozart's Requiem
was sung at his funeral.
Cast of Chopin’s hand.
19. Chopin is buried in the Père
Lachaise cemetery in Paris. Because
he had a fear of being buried alive,
his heart was removed and sent in
an urn to Warsaw, where it is
sealed in a pillar in the Church of
the Holy Cross. His grave attracts
many visitors and is always
decorated with flowers.
20. This is the pillar in the Church of
the Holy Cross in Warsaw where
the urn with Chopin’s heart is
buried.
