Episode 1
A child piano prodigy, Frederic Chopin leaves his native Poland at age 19 for bohemian Paris. Read by Stephen Campbell Moore.
Adam Zamoyski's biography of the brief but eventful life of the great Romantic composer Frederic Chopin, from Polish child prodigy to Paris dandy, his turbulent relationship with George Sand and his early death, penniless in Paris.
Chopin's prodigious talent as a pianist is recognised early on. But despite being lauded as the great nationalist hope in his native Poland, where his polonaises and mazurkas are inspired by the harmonies of Polish folk songs, the teenage Chopin soon becomes stifled by the provincialism of Warsaw. At 19, he leaves Poland for the temptations of bohemian Paris, never to live in his homeland again.
Abridged by Doreen Estall.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Broadcasts
Mon 15 Mar 2010 09:45麻豆社 Radio 4 FM- Tue 16 Mar 2010 00:30麻豆社 Radio 4
- Mon 2 Feb 2015 14:45麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra
- Tue 3 Feb 2015 00:45麻豆社 Radio 4 Extra
Listen to more Audio Books
Including My Sister The Serial Killer, Queenie, The Flatshare and more.
Opening Lines
John Yorke unpacks the themes behind the stories in Radio 4's weekend afternoon dramas.
Sample our books and authors Clip Collection
Interviews, previews and reviews
Subscribe to the Short stories podcast
Featuring the best stories from the UK's finest writers
How many of these 100 Novels have you read?
After a passionate debate, our panel has come up with this surprising literary selection.
Finding Your Story
Ten remarkable novels about identity: Which one will help you discover yourself?
麻豆社 Arts: Books
Celebrating reading and the 100 novels that have shaped our world.