Chopin is one of the greatest composers of the Romantic piano tradition. He was a master of the 'grand making the small form. " His ballades, mazurkas, polonaises, preludes, etudes and nocturnes are among the most popular standard works ever written for piano.
The prodigy grew up in a middle class family that dwelt in the world of the Warsaw intelligentsia. When in 1830 broke the November Uprising… in Poland, spent the twenty Chopin in Vienna. The exile would never see his homeland, he settled in the thriving cultural Paris.
He avoided public concerts, but played it like in intimate settings as exclusive salons and at home for friends. Thus Chopin earned a reputation as an exceptional pianist, piano teacher and composer.
During his ten-year relationship with the feminist writer George Sand in Nohant, he wrote his most important compositions in her summer residence. By tensions and disagreements Sand and Chopin broke up, and always in poor health suffering Chopin performed slowly and died at the age of 39 from tuberculosis.
Chopin spent a unique synthesis between the Viennese 'bravura / brilliant' style and French / English lyrical style. Despite its technically demanding pieces focused on lyrical expression and a poetic atmosphere. He created the instrumental ballade and brought salon genres innovations and refinements to a higher level. (SvdP)more
