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Frédéric Chopin, the greatest of the Polish composers, was born in Zelazowa Wola, near Warsaw on February 22, 1810 of a
French father, and a Polish mother. He spent the first 20 years of his life in Warsaw, where he was able to hear many of the premier artists of the time perform. Chopin first studied piano at the
Warsaw Conservatory, and became very proficient on the instrument by the time he reached his early teens. He played his first concert at the age of 7, and was a published composer by the time he
turned 15.
By the
late 1820s, Chopin had won a great reputation as a piano virtuoso and composer. He toured throughout Europe to the acclaim of audiences and critics, alike. In 1831, after performing in Paris, he fell
so deeply in love with the city that he made it his home, and never again returned to Warsaw. He soon became a favorite of the Parisian salons, and the society elite, and throughout the years that he
lived in Paris, was always in great demand as both a pianist and a teacher.
In the late 1830s, Chopin met the novelist, Mme. Aurore Dudévant, who used the pen name George Sand. They began
a relationship that would prove to be both the most influential and devastating events of his life. By 1847, their highly-charged relationship had ended, leaving Chopin heartbroken.
He continued to create music, but soon became ill, and died suddenly on October 17, 1849, at the age of only 39.
According to legend, there has never been a day when fresh flowers were not placed on his grave at Pêre-Lachaîse.
There is much written about this famous composer. We suggest searching the internet for more on Chopin. A good place to
start is Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Chopin
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