Frederic Chopin

Composer

Birthday March 1, 1810

Birth Sign Pisces

Birthplace Zelazowa Wola, Poland

DEATH DATE Oct 17, 1849 (39)

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About

Virtuoso pianist from the Romantic era who was nicknamed The Poet of the Piano. He not only invented the instrumental ballade, but wrote the famous "Revolutionary Étude."

Before Fame

His earliest lessons came from Wojciech Żywny, a Czech. He often played the piano for Russian Poland ruler Duke Constantine.

Trivia

His output was comprised of mainly piano pieces, including sonatas, mazurkas, waltzes, nocturnes, polonaises, études, impromptus, scherzos, and preludes.

Family Life

His father Nicolas Chopin was a tutor to the Polish aristocracy's children. He had a long and tumultuous relationship with French novelist and memoirist George Sand.

Associated With

He was played by Cornel Wilde in the 1945 film "A Song to Remember," earning Wilde a Best Actor Oscar nomination.