Jim Samson (Editor) - The Cambridge Companion to Chopin

Images of Chopin

1836, watercolour by Maria Wodziska, painted in Marienbad

1838, detail from a portrait by Eugne Delacroix, Muse du Louvre, Paris

1847, pencil drawing by F. X. Winterhalter

1849, from a photograph by L. A. Bisson

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Cambridge University Press 1992

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First published 1992
First paperback edition 1994
Reprinted 1998, 2000, 2004

A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication data
The Cambridge Companion to Chopin/edited by Jim Samson,

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0 521 40490 8 (hardback)
1. Chopin, Frdric, 18101849-Criticism and interpretation.
2. Chopin, Frdric, 18101849. Piano music. I. Samson, Jim.
ML410.C54C2 1992
786.2092 dc20 9124533 CIP MN

ISBN-13 9780-52140490-7 hardback
ISBN-10 0521-404908 hardback

ISBN-13 9780-52147752-9 paperback
ISBN-10 0521-477522 paperback

Transferred to digital printing 2007

Chronology

Biography	Music and musicians
1810	Chopin born, 1 March, in elazowa Wola, son of Nicolas Chopin and Justyna Krzyzanowska. The family moves to Warsaw in October.	Beethoven: music of Egmont.
1811	Beethovens Fifth Piano Concerto performed, Leipzig. Webers Abu Hassan given, Munich. Liszt born.
1812	Fields first nocturnes published, Moscow. Thalberg born.
1813	Rossinis Litaliana in Algeri given, Venice. The Philharmonic Society formed, London. Verdi and Wagner born.
1814	Final version of Beethovens Fidelio given, Vienna.
1815	Schubert: Erlknig. Maelzel invents the metronome.
1816	Begins to take piano lessons from Adalbert ywny.	Schubert: Fifth Symphony. Rossinis Il barbiere di Siviglia given, Rome.
1817	Polonaise in G minor published.	Weber appointed Kapellmeister, Dresden. Part I of Clementis Gradus ad Parnassum published.
1818	Plays at a charity concert in Warsaw, followed by numerous invitations to aristocratic homes.	Beethoven: Hammerklavier Sonata.
1819	Schubert: Trout Quintet. Offenbach born.
1820	Hears the singer Angelica Catalani, who gives him a gold watch. Plays for the Grand Duke Constantin.	Metal piano frames first used. Moniuszko born.
1821	Dedicates his A Polonaise to ywny.	Webers Der Freischtz given, Berlin. Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Opp. 11011.
1822	Has composition lessons from Jzef Elsner. Composes the G minor Polonaise.	Schubert: Unfinished Symphony. Franck born. Royal Academy of Music founded, London.
1823	Beethoven begins the composition of his late string quartets. Spohrs Jessonda given, Kassel.
1824	Enrols at the Warsaw Lyceum, where his father teaches.	Beethovens Choral Symphony performed in Vienna, and his Missa Solemnis in St. Petersburg. Schubert: Die Schne Mllerin. Rossini director of the Thtre-Italien, Paris.
1825	Edits (with his sister) the holiday diary Szafarnia Courier. Plays to Czar Alexander I. Rondo Op. 1 published.	Schubert: Great C major Symphony. Johann Strauss the elder forms his own orchestra, Vienna. Bruckner, Smetana and Johann Strauss the younger born.
1826	Enters Warsaw Conservatory. Polonaise in B minor. Gives several concerts in Warsaw.	Webers Oberon given, London. He dies there. Mendelssohn: Overture to A Midsummer Nights Dream.
1827	His younger sister Emilia dies. Sonata Op. 4, Variations Op. 2. Visits Prince Radziwi at Antonin.	Schubert: Die Winterreise and two piano trios. Liszt settles in Paris. Beethoven dies, Vienna.
1828	Visits Berlin. Fantasy on Polish Airs , Op. 13. Rondo la krakowiak , Op. 14.	Schubert: String Quintet in C and last three piano sonatas. He dies, Vienna. Aubers La Muette de Portici given, Paris.
1829	Meets Hummel and hears Paganini in Warsaw. Finishes at the Conservatory and gives two successful concerts in Vienna. Second visit to Antonin, where he writes the Polonaise Op. 3 for cello and piano. Infatuation for Konstancja Gowska.	Rossinis Guillaume Tell given, Paris. Mendelssohn conducts Bachs St Matthew Passion.
1830	Plays the two concertos at public concerts in Vienna. Leaves for Vienna with Titus Wojciechowski.	Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique. Mendelssohn: Reformation Symphony.
1831	Unsuccessful months in Vienna. Friendship with Dr Malfatti. Leaves for Munich, where he gives a concert, then Stuttgart, where he learns of the failure of the Polish uprising. The Stuttgart Diary. Arrives in Paris early October. Meets Kalkbrenner, Hiller and Liszt.	Bellinis La sonnambula and Norma given, Milan. Meyerbeers Robert le diable given, Paris. Schumann writes his early piano music.
1832	First concert in Paris. Friendships with Mendelssohn and Berlioz. First publications in Paris and London. Begins a highly successful and lucrative teaching career.	Donizettis Lelisir damore given, Milan.
1833	Plays with Liszt at a benefit for Harriet Smithson. Other private appearances. Friendship with Bellini. Opp. 812 published.