Frédéric Chopin

Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849) — born Fryderyk Franciszek Szopen in Żelazowa Wola near Warsaw — is one of the most celebrated composers and pianists of the Romantic era. Of Polish-French descent, he published his first composition at the age of seven and was performing in Warsaw's aristocratic salons by the age of eight. Under the guidance of Józef Elsner, founding director of the Warsaw Conservatory, he developed a distinctive musical voice early on. In 1831 Chopin moved to Paris, where his debut concert in 1832 catapulted him to fame and secured his place in the highest social circles. His entire output centres on the piano: nocturnes, polonaises, mazurkas, waltzes, études, préludes, sonatas, and ballades — many drawing on Polish folk music alongside influences from Bach, Mozart, and Schubert. Chopin is credited with inventing the instrumental ballade and profoundly shaped the trajectory of piano music well into the 20th century. Among his most celebrated works are the Préludes Op. 28, the "Heroic" Polonaise, and the Nocturnes. Despite giving only around 30 public concerts in 30 years, his influence on fellow musicians was immense. Chopin died in Paris in 1849 from tuberculosis.