The Child Prodigy
This weeks addition of All About Chopin featuring his
secret road to fame.
This weeks addition of All About Chopin featuring his
secret road to fame.
As a composer, Chopin acquired increased stature after a period in the late 19th century when his work often was judged by academic standards that were insensible to its individual character.
Chopin's small output was mostly confined to solo piano; yet within its limited framework its range is seen to be vast, comprehending every variety of musical expression.
Though Chopin squandered too much time on the drawing-room Parisian aristocracy and disappointed critics who valued artistic worth only in terms of large-scale achievement, he was immediately recognized at his true worth by more-discerning contemporaries, who were astounded by the startling originality he reconciled with exquisite craftsmanship.
Present-day evaluation places him among the immortals of music by reason of his insight into the secret places of the heart and because of his awareness of the magical new sonorities to be drawn from the piano.
Even today, Poland claims Frederic Chopin as a national icon. If you wanted, you could take a whole Chopin-themed trip! Arrive at the Warsaw Chopin Airport and take a bus out to his childhood home in Żelazowa Wola. Then, visit the Chopin Institute in Warsaw, a research center, performance venue, and museum dedicated to the composer’s life and work. If you happen to be there at the right time, you might even catch the International Chopin Piano Competition – the Olympics of piano competitions, held every five years. Winners have included Maurizio Pollini, Martha Argerich, and Krystian Zimerman, all of whom are featured as performers on our Chopin Essentials playlist on Spotify.
