Frederick Chopin (1810-1849)
Polish piano virtuoso, teacher, and Romantic composer. Created dance and lyric compositions filled with romantic intensity, flexibility of tempo, and subtle melodic ornamentation.
"Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art."
“The population here is ugly, but apparently good-natured. On the other hand the cows are magnificent.”
Best known works: piano concertos, preludes, mazurkas, etudes, polonaises, nocturnes, ballades