Chopin was one of the six major composers born between February 1809 and October 1813 (the others were Mendelssohn, Schumann, Liszt, Wagner and Verdi). The son of a Polish mother and a French father who had emigrated to Poland, Chopin was born near Warsaw and grew up in the capital. His prodigious talent for the piano manifested itself early, and by the age of eight he was appearing in public, even though he had had little professional guidance. By the age of 15 he was a published composer. At 19, he made a successful début in Vienna, and a year later he left Poland, eventually settling in Paris in 1831. He did not realize at the time that political turmoil would make it impossible for him to return to his beloved native country. In Paris he was accorded the highest artistic standing, and his friends included Liszt, Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Rossini, Bellini, Balzac, Heine and Delacroix.

The most celebrated of his lovers were Countess Delfina Potocka, a singer, and Baroness Aurore Dudevant, who, under the nom de plume of George Sand, was one of the most popular novelists of her day (the beginning of her relationship with Chopin is delightfully, if fancifully, portrayed in the film Impromptu). When he was 26 Chopin became engaged to a 17-year-old Polish girl, but a decline in his health - he was tubercular - put an end to his hopes of marriage.

In Paris he did a great deal of teaching, for which he was highly paid, and he frequented the salons of the aristocracy and haute bourgeoisie. He made few public appearances as a pianist, however, performing for the last time during a visit to England and Scotland in 1848. After his return to Paris his health declined dramatically, and he died there at the age of 39.

Harvey Sachs

Biographical notes (c) 1996, reprinted by permission of Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Hamburg

A selection of major works:

Orchestral: 2 Piano Concertos, Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise, Fantasy on Polish Airs, Krakowiak, Variations on Là ci darem la mano (from Mozart's Don Giovanni).

Chamber: Cello Sonata, Grand Duo concertante, Piano Trio, Rondo for 2 Pianos, Variations on Non più mesta (from Rossini's La Cenerentola).

Instrumental solo: Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise, 4 Ballades, Barcarolle, Op. 60, Berceuse, Op. 57, Bolero, Op. 19, Ecossaises, Etudes, 4 Impromptus, 63 Mazurkas, 21 Nocturnes, 3 Piano Sonatas, 16 Polonaises, 26 Preludes, 19 Waltzes.