Happy 200th birthday Mr Chopin
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This is the year we mark the 200th anniversary of a musical genius. This is the year concerts and events will be held around the globe to mark a great legacy. This is the year we commemorate an artist who is still copied, listened to and celebrated to this day. This is the year of Chopin.
Frederik Chopin was born in Warsaw in 1810. He died in Paris in 1849 after a life-long battle with pulmonary tuberculosis. Yet in his 39 years he created some of the most memorable romantic musical pieces the world has ever known.
Chopin was born in Poland, but the French celebrate him as one of their own, as he lived half his life and composed his greatest works there.
Chopin biographer Alain Dualt is in charge of France’s Chopin Year celebrations. He explains France’s affinity with the pianist and his romantic melodies: “Chopin composed little pieces of music, and we have a special affection for little things in France […] a little kiss, a little dress, a little meal. And Chopin’s little pieces work well in the modern world too, where everyone’s zapping from one channel to another. So they continue to transmit that tender image of Romanticism today.”
Despite the French connection, Chopin always kept a silver cup of Polish soil in his home and is said to have held nationalistic feelings towards his homeland. According to Louis Enault, another biographer, Chopin was “more Polish than Poland.”
Of course both France and Poland, as well as other countries including the United States and Canada, will be marking the celebrations with concerts, conferences and exhibitions.
It appears the magic of Chopin still captures the imagination of today’s youth. The celebrations have attracted performances from young, exciting pianists such as 27-year-old Li Yundi and 24-year-old Rafał Blechacz. And, in what has become the latest benchmark of success, almost 3,000 people have become fans of the Chopin Year celebrations page on social networking site Facebook
