Frédéric Chopin

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Biography

Born: 1810   Died: 1849   Period: Romantic
Frédéric Chopin has long been recognized as one of the most significant and individual composers of the Romantic age. The bulk of his reputation rests on small-scale works that in other hands would have been mere salon trifles: waltzes, nocturnes, preludes, mazurkas, and polonaises (the last-named two groups reflecting his fervent Polish nationalism). These works link poetically expressive melody and restless harmony to high technical demands. Read more Even his etudes survive as highly appealing concert pieces by emphasizing musical as well as technical values.

His birth date is a matter of controversy; the town registration of his birth specifies February 22, but Chopin always gave the date as March 1. His father was French, his mother Polish; he was raised in Warsaw by a family that mingled with intellectuals and members of the middle and upper classes, and as a teenager he spent two summers in the country, where he was exposed to Polish folk music. By the age of eight he was recognized as a child prodigy, performing in elegant salons and beginning to write his own pieces. Early on he studied composition with Josef Elsner, then took classes in various other music subjects as well as art and literature at the Warsaw Lyceum. In 1826 he enrolled at the University of Warsaw. He gave his first recital in Vienna in 1829, and over the next few years he performed at home and through much of German and Austria as well as in Paris. Feeling limited by Warsaw's cultural provincialism and uncomfortable with the publicity surrounding his performances there, he settled in Paris in 1832 and established himself as an exorbitantly paid piano teacher. In Paris he composed extensively, but limited his performances mainly to private salons.

In 1838 he began an affair with French novelist George Sand. The couple, along with Sand's children, spent a harsh winter in Majorca, where Chopin's health plummeted and he was diagnosed with consumption (tuberculosis). Chopin settled in with Sand in France, composing steadily although his increasing perfectionism slowed his output. By the mid-1840s, though, his health and romantic situation both had deteriorated. The affair ended in 1847 after, among other things, Sand had portrayed their relationship unflatteringly in her 1846 novel Lucrezia Floriani. Chopin then made an extended visit to the British Isles, but returned to Paris to die in 1849. Read less

Featured Frédéric Chopin CDs & DVDs:

Legend - Chopin: 14 Waltzes, Etc / François
Legend - Chopin: 14 Waltzes, Etc / François
Release Date: 07/19/2005   Label: Emi Classics  
Catalog: 58025   Number of Discs: 1
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Chopin: Piano Sonata No 2, 4 Scherzos / Simon Trpceski
Chopin: Piano Sonata No 2, 4 Scherzos / Simon Trpceski
Release Date: 01/16/2007   Label: Emi Classics  
Catalog: 75586   Number of Discs: 1
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Grieg, Chopin: Piano Concertos / Mustonen, Blomstedt
Grieg, Chopin: Piano Concertos / Mustonen, Blomstedt
Release Date: 02/20/1996   Label: Decca  
Catalog: 444518   Number of Discs: 1
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André Watts - A Chopin Recital
André Watts - A Chopin Recital
Release Date: 08/29/2007   Label: Emi Classics  
Catalog: 54151   Number of Discs: 1
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Chopin: Nocturnes / Fou Ts'ong
Chopin: Nocturnes / Fou Ts'ong
Release Date: 05/18/1993   Label: Sony Classical Essential Classics  
Catalog: 53249   Number of Discs: 2
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Work: Concerto for Piano No. 1 in E minor

Browse 176-189 of 189 Available Recordings
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  • 176.
    Chopin - The Greatest Hits
    Chopin - The Greatest Hits
    Label: Reference Gold   Catalog: 3609 Release Date: 04/13/1994   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Russell Sherman,  Arthur Moreira Lima,  Sylvia Cápová,  Dubravka Tomsic  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ljubljana Radio Symphony Orchestra
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  • 177.
    Arthur Rubinstein - Chopin
    Arthur Rubinstein - Chopin
    Label: Emi Classics Références   Catalog: 64933 Release Date: 03/15/1994   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Artur Rubinstein
    Conductor:  Sir John Barbirolli
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Symphony Orchestra
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  • 178.
    Chopin, Liszt: Piano Concertos No 1 / Székely, Banowetz
    Chopin, Liszt: Piano Concertos No 1 / Székely, Banowetz
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 550292 Release Date: 02/15/1994   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Liszt,  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Joseph Banowetz,  István Székely
    Conductor:  Oliver Dohnányi,  Gyula Németh
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Slovak State Symphony Orchestra,  Budapest Symphony Orchestra
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  • 179.
    Chopin: Piano Concerto No 1, Etc / Idil Biret, Stankovsky
    Chopin: Piano Concerto No 1, Etc / Idil Biret, Stankovsky
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 550368 Release Date: 02/15/1994   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Idil Biret
    Conductor:  Robert Stankovsky
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Czecho-Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra Kosice
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  • 180.
    Chopin: Complete Works For Piano & Orchestra / Arrau, Inbal
    Chopin: Complete Works For Piano & Orchestra / Arrau, Inbal
    Label: Philips Duo   Catalog: 438338 Release Date: 08/10/1993   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Claudio Arrau
    Conductor:  Eliahu Inbal
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Symphony Orchestra
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  • 181.
    Chopin: Piano Concertos 1-2 / Samson François
    Chopin: Piano Concertos 1-2 / Samson François
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 47557 Release Date: 01/12/1993   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Samson François
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  • 182.
    Pure Romance- Chopin: Concerto No 1; Liszt / Tzimon Barto
    Pure Romance- Chopin: Concerto No 1; Liszt / Tzimon Barto
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 54648 Release Date: 11/10/1992   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin,  Franz Liszt
    Performer:  Tzimon Barto
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  • 183.
    Chopin: Complete Works For Piano & Orchestra / Abbey Simon
    Chopin: Complete Works For Piano & Orchestra / Abbey Simon
    Label: Vox Box   Catalog: 5002 Release Date: 11/04/1992   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Abbey Simon
    Conductor:  Heribert Beissel
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Hamburg Symphony Orchestra
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  • 184.
    Chopin: Piano Concertos No 1 & 2 / Székely, Németh
    Chopin: Piano Concertos No 1 & 2 / Székely, Németh
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8550123 Release Date: 06/30/1992   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  István Székely
    Conductor:  Gyula Németh
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Budapest Symphony Orchestra
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  • 185.
    Chopin: Piano Concertos No 1 & 2 / Ax, Ormandy
    Chopin: Piano Concertos No 1 & 2 / Ax, Ormandy
    Label: Rca Silver Seal   Catalog: 60789 Release Date: 07/05/1991   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Emanuel Ax
    Conductor:  Eugene Ormandy
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philadelphia Orchestra
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  • 186.
    Chopin: Piano Concerto No 1, Etc / Perahia, Mehta
    Chopin: Piano Concerto No 1, Etc / Perahia, Mehta
    Label: Cbs Masterworks   Catalog: 42400 Release Date: 10/25/1990   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Murray Perahia
    Conductor:  Zubin Mehta
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  New York Philharmonic
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  • 187.
    Chopin: Piano Concerto No 1; Rachmaninof / Cliburn, Ormandy
    Chopin: Piano Concerto No 1; Rachmaninof / Cliburn, Ormandy
    Label: Rca Victor Gold Seal   Catalog: 7945 Release Date: 10/25/1990   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Sergei Rachmaninov,  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Van Cliburn
    Conductor:  Eugene Ormandy
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philadelphia Orchestra
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  • 188.
    Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2 / Zimerman, Giulini
    Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2 / Zimerman, Giulini
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 415970 Release Date: 10/25/1990   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Krystian Zimerman
    Conductor:  Carlo Maria Giulini
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 189.
    Chopin: Piano Concertos 1 & 2 / Perahia, Mehta, Israel Po
    Chopin: Piano Concertos 1 & 2 / Perahia, Mehta, Israel Po
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 44922 Release Date: 03/30/1990   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Murray Perahia
    Conductor:  Zubin Mehta
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
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