Frédéric François Chopin (born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin; 1 March 1810 – 17 October 1849) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic period, known for his works primarily composed for solo piano. He is widely regarded as one of the most important composers of his time, recognised for a distinctive musical style and a highly refined technique.

Chopin was born in Żelazowa Wola and raised in Warsaw, which became part of Congress Poland in 1815. A child prodigy, he completed his musical education in Warsaw and composed many of his early works there. In 1830, shortly before the outbreak of the November Uprising, he left Poland and eventually settled in Paris at the age of 21. He performed publicly only about 30 times during his career, preferring the more private settings of salons. He earned a living by selling his compositions and giving piano lessons, for which he was in high demand.

In Paris, Chopin developed friendships with musicians such as Franz Liszt and was admired by many contemporaries, including Robert Schumann. He was briefly engaged to Maria Wodzińska from 1836 to 1837 and later entered into a complex relationship with the French writer Aurore Dupin, better known by her pen name George Sand. Their stay in Mallorca in 1838–39, despite being personally difficult, resulted in a productive period of composition. In his final years, he was financially supported by Jane Stirling, a Scottish admirer. Chopin suffered from poor health throughout his life and died in Paris in 1849 at the age of 39.

Chopin’s entire compositional output involves the piano. Most of his works are for solo piano, though he also composed two piano concertos, several pieces of chamber music, and 19 songs set to Polish texts. His music is known for its technical demands, expressive depth, and innovative use of harmony and musical form. Among his major contributions to piano literature are mazurkas, waltzes, nocturnes, polonaises, études, impromptus, ballades, scherzi, preludes, and sonatas, some of which were published after his death. His compositional style was shaped by Polish folk music, as well as by the classical influences of Mozart and Schubert, and the artistic milieu of the Paris salons.

Chopin has become an enduring figure of the Romantic era, noted not only for his music but also for his early fame, associations with political themes, personal life, and early death. His works remain central to the piano repertoire and continue to be widely performed and studied. He has been the subject of numerous films and biographies. The Fryderyk Chopin Institute, established by the Polish parliament, is dedicated to researching and promoting his life and works and organises the International Chopin Piano Competition. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.