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: Berceuse for Piano in D flat major, B 154/Op. 57

Browse 26-50 of 232 Available Recordings
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  • 26.
    Chopin: Complete Piano Works / Nikita Magaloff
    Chopin: Complete Piano Works / Nikita Magaloff
    Label: Newton Classics   Catalog: 8802076 Release Date: 07/26/2011   Number of Discs: 13
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Nikita Magaloff
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  • 27.
    Chopin Recital / Anne-Marie McDermott
    Chopin Recital / Anne-Marie McDermott
    Label: Bridge   Catalog: 9359 Release Date: 07/12/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Anne-Marie McDermott
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  • 28.
    Chopin: Sonata In Bb Minor, Berceuse, Etc / Katia Skanavi
    Chopin: Sonata In Bb Minor, Berceuse, Etc / Katia Skanavi
    Label: Pro Piano   Catalog: 224522 Release Date: 06/21/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Katia Skanavi
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  • 29.
    Frederic Chopin: 24 Preludes / Florence Delaage
    Frederic Chopin: 24 Preludes / Florence Delaage
    Label: Indesens   Catalog: 31 Release Date: 06/14/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Florence Delaage
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  • 30.
    Chopin: Ballets
    Chopin: Ballets
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 49834 Release Date: 05/17/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin,  John Lanchbery
    Performer:  Philip Gammon,  Ronald Smith,  Dmitri Alexeev,  Andrei Gavrilov  ... 
    Conductor:  Robert Irving,  John Lanchbery
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  • 31.
    Classic Lullabies: Music For Sweetest Dreams
    Classic Lullabies: Music For Sweetest Dreams
    Label: Virgin Classics   Catalog: 70829 Release Date: 05/03/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Robert Schumann,  Bernhard Flies,  Franz Schubert  ... 
    Performer:  Juhani Lagerspetz,  Truls Otterbech Mork,  Jean-Bernard Pommier,  Leif Ove Andsnes  ... 
    Conductor:  Jeffrey Tate,  Richard Stamp,  Sir Neville Marriner,  Paul Tortelier  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Nash Ensemble
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  • 32.
    The Warsaw Recital - Daniel Barenboim Plays Chopin
    The Warsaw Recital - Daniel Barenboim Plays Chopin
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 001538402 Release Date: 05/03/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Daniel Barenboim
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  • 33.
    Variations / Alejandro Pico-leonis
    Variations / Alejandro Pico-leonis
    Label: Oehms   Catalog: 775 Release Date: 03/29/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Robert Schumann,  Franz Schubert  ... 
    Performer:  Alejandro Pico-leonis
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  • 34.
    Chopin: Works For Piano
    Chopin: Works For Piano
    Label: Ipo   Catalog: 1018 Release Date: 03/08/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Dubravka Tomsic
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  • 35.
    The Himalaya Sessions Vol. 1 - Pianist Lost: Excesses & Excuses / Halstead
    The Himalaya Sessions Vol. 1 - Pianist Lost: Excesses & Excuses / Halstead
    Label: Albany Records   Catalog: 1204 Release Date: 03/08/2011  
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin,  Claude Debussy,  Erik Satie,  Sergei Rachmaninov  ... 
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  • 36.
    Brailowsky Plays Chopin
    Brailowsky Plays Chopin
    Label: Rca Victor Gold Seal   Catalog: 68164 Release Date: 02/14/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Alexander Brailowsky
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  • 37.
    Daniel Barenboim - The Warsaw Recital
    Daniel Barenboim - The Warsaw Recital
    Label: Accentus   Catalog: 1020 Release Date: 01/25/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Daniel Barenboim
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  • 38.
    Chopin: Complete Nocturnes; Barcarolle; Berceuse / Feltsman
    Chopin: Complete Nocturnes; Barcarolle; Berceuse / Feltsman
    Label: Nimbus   Catalog: 6126 Release Date: 01/11/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Vladimir Feltsman
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  • 39.
    Chopin: Complete Piano Works
    Chopin: Complete Piano Works
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 94089 Release Date: 12/14/2010   Number of Discs: 15
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Bella Davidovich,  Louis Lortie,  Adam Harasiewicz,  Alwin Bär  ... 
    Conductor:  Dimiter Manolov,  Sir Neville Marriner,  Dmitri Kitayenko
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra,  Philharmonia Orchestra,  Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 40.
    The Complete Raoul Von Koczalski Vol 1 - Polydor Recordings 1924-1928
    The Complete Raoul Von Koczalski Vol 1 - Polydor Recordings 1924-1928
    Label: Marston   Catalog: 52063 Release Date: 12/01/2010   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin,  Franz Liszt,  Robert Schumann,  Raoul Koczalski  ... 
    Performer:  Raoul von Koczalski
    CD: $36.99
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  • 41.
    Daniel Barenboim - The Warsaw Recital
    Daniel Barenboim - The Warsaw Recital
    Label: Accentus   Catalog: 20102 Release Date: 11/16/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Daniel Barenboim
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  • 42.
    Chopin By Knight
    Chopin By Knight
    Label: Hyperion Knight (Label)   Catalog: 383367 Release Date: 10/26/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Hyperion Knight
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  • 43.
    Frederic Chopin's Last Words
    Frederic Chopin's Last Words
    Label: Genuin Musikproduction   Catalog: 10190 Release Date: 10/26/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Elina Gotsouliak
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  • 44.
    Best Chopin 50
    Best Chopin 50
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 31666 Release Date: 10/12/2010   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Stephen Kovacevich,  Ingrid Fliter,  Dmitri Alexeev,  Dinu Lipatti  ... 
    Conductor:  Stanislaw Skrowaczewski,  Paul Kletzki,  Charles Dutoit,  Jerzy Maksymiuk
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Society of the Conservatory Concerts Orchestra,  Philharmonia Orchestra,  Montreal Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 45.
    Chopin: Sonatas 2 & 3, Two Nocturnes, Berceuse, Barcarolle / Marc-Andre Hamelin
    Chopin: Sonatas 2 & 3, Two Nocturnes, Berceuse, Barcarolle / Marc-Andre Hamelin
    Label: Hyperion   Catalog: 30006 Release Date: 10/12/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Marc-André Hamelin
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  • 46.
    Easy-listening Piano Classics: Chopin
    Easy-listening Piano Classics: Chopin
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8578090-92 Release Date: 09/28/2010   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Idil Biret
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  • 47.
    Chopin-schumann Anniversary Edition / Burkard Schliessmann
    Chopin-schumann Anniversary Edition / Burkard Schliessmann
    Label: Msr   Catalog: 1361 Release Date: 09/14/2010   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Robert Schumann
    Performer:  Burkard Schliessmann
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  • 48.
    Masters Of Chopin - Ignaz Friedman, Ignace Tiegerman & Severin Eisenberger
    Masters Of Chopin - Ignaz Friedman, Ignace Tiegerman & Severin Eisenberger
    Label: Arbiter   Catalog: 158 Release Date: 09/14/2010   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Felix Mendelssohn,  Frédéric Chopin,  Ferruccio Busoni,  Josef Suk  ... 
    Performer:  Ignaz Friedman,  Ignace Tiegerman,  Henri Barda,  Severin Eisenberger
    Conductor:  Oreste Campisi,  José Ferriz
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  • 49.
    The The Ultimate Lullaby Collection
    The The Ultimate Lullaby Collection
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8570514-15 Release Date: 08/31/2010   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Felix Mendelssohn,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Edvard Grieg,  Louis Spohr  ... 
    Performer:  Péter Nagy,  Takako Nishizaki,  Nora Shulman,  Judy Loman  ... 
    Conductor:  Anthony Bramall,  Stephen Gunzenhauser,  Libor Pesek,  James Judd  ... 
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  • 50.
    A Century Of Romantic Chopin
    A Century Of Romantic Chopin
    Label: Marston   Catalog: 54001 Release Date: 08/19/2010   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin
    Performer:  Moritz Rosenthal,  Alfred Cortot,  Rosita Renard,  Sydney Foster  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir John Barbirolli
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