F. Chopin, whose biography today is the topic of our conversation, is a talented Polish composer and pianist. Frederick was born on March 1, 1810 in a town near Warsaw. The boy’s musical talent manifested itself in early childhood: already at the age of six, he enjoyed playing the piano, tried to compose music on his own. A significant role in this was played by his teacher, V. Zhivny.
Studying and getting started
When Frederick turned 8, he first publicly performed as a pianist. At that time, Chopin, whose biography as a composer begins very early, had already written several Polonez plays and one of his marches.
From 1823 to 1826, Frederick studied at the Warsaw Lyceum, after which he immediately managed to enter the Warsaw Higher School of Music. Almost all this time, his mentor was Yu. Elsner, a talented teacher and musician. It was with his help that Chopin wrote his first serious works, among which were variations on the theme of Mozart, 1st Sonata, Nocturne in E Minor, Rondo (including Rondo for two pianos).
After graduating, Frederick goes to Vienna (1829), where he performs his works for the general public. A year later, in Warsaw, an independent concert was organized for him, which marked the beginning of a series of solo performances.
Vienna period
Further, F. Chopin, whose biography still remains the subject of study by many researchers, moves for some time to Vienna (1830-1831). Here life literally begins to boil around him: the young composer regularly attends various concerts, gets acquainted with the luminaries of the world of music of that period, visits theaters, regularly visits the picturesque surroundings of the city. Such an atmosphere allows him to reveal his talent from a new perspective and inspires him to many wonderful works. Autumn 1831 Frederick meets in Stuttgart. It was here that he was overtaken by the news of the failure of the uprising in Poland and the fall of Warsaw. Impressed by the tragic events, the composer writes a subsequently called “revolutionary” study in C minor, as well as two unusually tragic preludes - D minor and A minor. The list of his works also replenishes several concerts for piano and orchestra, polonaise for cello and piano, Polish songs to the words of Mickiewicz and Vitwicki, and many other wonderful compositions.
Bustling life in Paris
The next important stage that Frederic Chopin is going through, whose biography has already left its mark in the history of Vienna, is life in Paris. It is here that the composer and musician begins to communicate closely with Liszt, Bellini, Berlioz, Mendelssohn. However, the circle of his communication is not limited to the musical sphere. Frederic also enjoys communicating with talented writers and brush masters - Hugo, Balzac, Lamartine, Heine, Delacroix, J. Sand. On February 26, 1832, the composer's first concert took place in Paris, during which he performed a concert for two pianos, as well as variations on the Mozartian theme “Don Giovanni”.
A large number of concerts took place in 1833-1835. But the period from 1836 to 1837 became decisive in the composer's personal life : the engagement with Maria Vodzinskaya was canceled, and Chopin himself became close to J. Sand.
"Golden" time in the history of Chopin
The highest flowering of Chopin's work began in 1838-1846. His most perfect and impressive works were written precisely during this period. Among them are sonatas No. 2 and No. 3, ballads, fantasy polonaise, scherzo, nocturnes, barcarole, polonaises, preludes, mazurkas, etc. Frederick usually spent his winter in his beloved Paris, and moved to Noan for the summer, estate George Sand. Chopin was forced to spend only one winter (1838-1839) in the south, in Mallorca, due to sharply worsened health. While on the Spanish island, he managed to complete another 24 preludes.
last years of life
May 1844 turned out to be difficult for the composer - it was then that his father passed away, and Frederick took his death extremely hard. The break with J. Sand (1847), the love of his whole life, finally undermined his strength. On November 16, 1848, at a Polish evening in London, Chopin, whose biography still excites hearts, spoke for the last time. After that, his state of health did not allow him to speak or engage with students. In the winter of 1849, Frederick finally lay down. Neither the care of faithful friends, nor even the arrival in Paris of Louis, the composer's beloved sister, was able to alleviate his suffering, and after severe agony he died. It happened on October 17, 1849.
Until now, the contribution that Frederic Chopin made to the development of musical art remains truly invaluable. A short biography, of course, cannot describe all the exciting moments of his life. However, many biographical researchers have tried to reveal as accurately as possible and in more detail the whole path of this extraordinary personality. Among them are I. Khitrik, A. Solovtsov, L. Sinyaver, L. A. Mazel.