HOME FRYDERYK CHOPIN ( 1810 - 1849 ) "Chopin wrote two wonderful mazurkas which are worthier than more than forty novels and are more eloquent than all the literature of the century". George Sand Chopin's music is soft, subtle, melodic and expressive. It's a great novelty in the 19th century. The hungarian pianist Franz Liszt, who also emigrated from central europe to France, retreated for weeks to read and understand this music, and came to the conclusion that the Polish musician had invented a new style. This is really remarkable as Chopin was inspired by traditional tunes from Polish folklore of Mazovia. His music reflects his state of mind. As he came back to his native town, Zelazowa Wola, a the age of 20, he sometimes put the piano outside in the evening when the night was falling and began to compose some of his nocturnes. Later, he found inspiration also close to nature as he had a journey near Palma, where he composed one of his most famous masterpieces : the twenty-four preludes. Some of his works were composed in several cities due to his frequent travels through Europe. Chopin was dreaming of going to other European capitals such as Vienna or Paris. After a long hesitation, his departure was precipitated by tensions in Poland. The country was preparing the uprising against the Russian. It gives a farewell concert on October, 11th of 1830. in the National Theatre in Warsaw before leaving the Mazovia for ever. These events influence his compositions. Dresden, Prague, Vienna, Munich, Stuttgart, Paris, London,Mallorca ; Chopin traveled a lot. He settled in Paris at the age of 21. This was the Paris of Victor Hugo, Eugene Delacroix, Ferdinand Hiller, Franz Liszt and Dudevant Aurora who was also known as George Sand. He has lived in the City Bergere, Chaussee d'Antin, Rue Tronchet, Rue Pigalle and Place Vendome. Delacroix painted a portrait of Chopin and George Sand, who met at a reception organized by Franz Liszt. This illustrates rather well the life worldly parisian life of Chopin. He wrote the "Polonaises" for the annual party at the Hotel Lambert, on the Ile Saint Louis, which was bought by a Polish family who escaped from their country because of troubles during the insurgency against the Russians in 1830. This place became the largest polish cultural center outside of Poland. There was a great sympathy in Paris for the cause of Polish at that time. Chopin spent sometimes days outside of Paris, in Nohant, in the home of George Sand, where he was very productive. At the end of his life, he traveled to England where he met Charles Dickens and Queen Victoria. His health remained always  weak. He gave a final concert in 1848 which left a fabulous memory to the parisian public, despite of his physical weakness. He died of tuberculosis, October 17, 1849 . His body is at Pere Lachaise in Paris and his heart is in a pillar of St. Cross Church in Warsaw (Kościół Swietego Krzyza). A bronze statue was built in 1926 in his memory in Lazienki Park. It was destroyed during second world war and rebuilt in 1958. It is the largest statue of Chopin in the world. Listen to Chopin works on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq-jcs_dBg4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C-oiN_KDD0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4quKyrOVww http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Llni1Dn-f4U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef-4Bv5Ng0w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG1Olvh7vCU
	Chopin Statue at Lazienki park in Warsaw
	Zelazowa Wola
	The pillar with Chopin's heart in St Cross Church