Frédéric François Chopin (1 March or 22 February 1810 – 17 October 1849), born (and known in Poland as) Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin, is a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist.
He is widely considered one of the greatest Romantic piano composers.
Chopin is born in Żelazowa Wola, a village in the Duchy of Warsaw.
A renowned child prodigy, he grows up in Warsaw and completes his music education there; he composes many of his mature works in Warsaw before leaving Poland in 1830 at age 20, shortly before the November 1830 Uprising.
Following the Russian suppression of the Uprising, he settles in Paris as part of Poland's Great Emigration.
During the remaining 19 years of his life, Chopin gives only some 30 public performances, preferring the more intimate atmosphere of the salon; he supports himself by selling his compositions and teaching piano.
After some romantic dalliances with Polish women, including an abortive engagement, from 1837 to 1847 he carries on a relationship with the French writer Amandine Dupin, aka George Sand.
For most of his life Chopin suffers from poor health; he dies in Paris in 1849 at age 39.
The vast majority of Chopin's works are for solo piano, though he also writes two piano concertos, a few chamber pieces and some songs to Polish lyrics.
His piano works are often technically demanding, emphasizing nuance and expressive depth.
Chopin invents the instrumental ballade and makes major innovations to the piano sonata, mazurka, waltz, nocturne, polonaise, étude, impromptu, scherzo and prélude.
