After completing his studies, Chopin planned a longer stay abroad to become familiar with the musical life of Europe and to win fame. In July 1829, he made a short excursion to Vienna where, accompanied by an orchestra, he performed a few of his compositions, as well as various improvisations. He enjoyed tremendous success with the public, and although the critics criticized his performance for its small amount of volume, they commended him as a genius of the piano and praised his compositions.
Chopin eventually returned to Warsaw and devoted himself to composition. On October 11, 1830, he gave a ceremonial farewell concert in the National Theatre in Warsaw. He then returned to Vienna where he wished to strengthen his earlier success and establish his reputation.
In the autumn of 1831, Chopin arrived in Paris. Here, his reputation as an artist grew rapidly. Letters of recommendation, which he brought with him from Vienna, allowed him to immediately join the local musical scene, which welcomed him cordially. His success soon after was enormous, and he quickly became a famous musician, renowned throughout Paris. Even so, the most important source of Chopin’s income in Paris was from giving piano lessons. He became a popular teacher among the Polish and French upper class.
Several young ladies appear to have been the object of Chopin’s affections over the years, but the most distinguished female with whom he had a relationship was Aurore Dudevant, known as George Sand, whom he met in London in 1836. For 9 years, beginning in 1838, she was his closest companion. The couple spent the winter vacationing in Spain. It was here that, due to unfavorable weather conditions, Chopin became gravely ill and showed symptoms of tuberculosis. For many weeks, he remained so weak that he was unable to leave the house. Nonetheless, he continued to work intensively and composed a number of masterpieces.
This was the happiest and most productive period in his life. The majority of his most outstanding and profound works were composed during this time. Due to continued differences between Chopin and Sand, separation became inevitable, and the beginning of the end for Chopin. A final parting of ways took place in July 1847.
This all had a devastating effect on Chopin’s mental and physical state. His health soon failed and he lost nearly all interest in composition. From then to the end of his life, he wrote only a few miniatures.
On November 16, 1848, despite frailty and fever, Chopin gave his last concert, playing for Polish emigrants in the Guildhall in London. A few days later, he returned to Paris. His rapidly progressing disease made it impossible to continue giving lessons. In the summer of 1849, Chopin died of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Chopin was not a conductor, a music critic, or a great teacher-although he earned a lot of money from his teaching. In reality, he was a legendary pianist who gave roughly 30 public performances in his entire lifetime. From all reports, his playing was extraordinarily quiet and controlled, varying from pianissimo to mezzo forte with only a very occasional forte. He wrote no symphonies, no operas, no string quartets, and only one trio. Besides his two significant sonatas and two piano concertos, he his best known for his musical miniatures.
