Frédéric Chopin

Frédéric Chopin was born to Nicolas and Justyna Chopin in Żelazowa Wola, a village in the Duchy of Warsaw. His father was a French émigré and his mother was Polish.

Chopin starts taking piano lessons from Wojciech Żywny, a Bohemian composer and piano teacher, in Warsaw. This marks the beginning of his formal musical education.

Chopin enrolls in the Warsaw Conservatory, where he studies under Józef Elsner. He graduates in 1829, already showing exceptional talent and composing several works.

Chopin leaves Poland for Paris, where he will spend the majority of his adult life. This move marks the beginning of his international career as a composer and pianist.

Chopin makes his debut in Paris, performing at the Salle Pleyel. His performance is well-received, and he quickly gains recognition as a virtuoso pianist and composer.

Chopin meets the French writer George Sand, with whom he begins a romantic relationship that lasts for nine years. This period is both personally and creatively significant.

Chopin completes his '24 Preludes, Op. 28,' a set of short pieces for solo piano. This work is considered one of his most significant achievements and is widely performed today.

Chopin begins teaching piano at the Paris Conservatoire, where he influences a new generation of pianists. His teaching methods and compositions become highly regarded.

Chopin's relationship with George Sand comes to an end, leading to a period of personal and emotional turmoil. This separation marks a turning point in his life and work.

Chopin performs his last public concert in Paris, a benefit for Polish refugees. His health is declining, and this performance is a poignant farewell to the stage.

Frédéric Chopin dies in Paris, likely from tuberculosis. He is buried at Père Lachaise Cemetery, and his heart is interred in the Church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw.