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Warsaw concert to mark anniversary of Chopin’s death

17.10.2024 12:30
Mozart's "Requiem" will be performed in Warsaw on Thursday as part of the annual tribute to Romantic composer Fryderyk Chopin, marking the 175th anniversary of his death.
A statue of the great Romantic composer Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849) in Warsaws Łazienki Park. Pixabay License
A statue of the great Romantic composer Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849) in Warsaw's Łazienki Park. Pixabay LicenseImage by Jacek Dopieralski from Pixabay

The concert will take place at the Polish capital's Holy Cross Basilica, where Chopin's heart rests in a pillar, symbolising his enduring bond with his home country.

Chopin's heart is interred at the Holy Cross Basilica in Warsaw. Chopin's heart is interred at the Holy Cross Basilica in Warsaw. Photo: Zala, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Born in the village of Żelazowa Wola in 1810, Chopin spent his formative years in Warsaw. His heart was brought back to Poland by his elder sister, after his death in Paris on October 17, 1849. It is enshrined in a pillar on the left side of the basilica's nave, fulfilling his final wish.

Thursday's performance will feature acclaimed Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko, who will play a historic piano from Chopin's era.

Mozart's masterpiece will be heard in a transcription for solo piano by 19th-century German virtuoso, conductor and composer Karl Klingworth.

Last year, a version of the Requiem for string quartet was performed at the same venue, keeping alive the tradition of honouring Chopin’s memory with Mozart's music.

The choice of the Requiem reflects Chopin's own wish, expressed on his deathbed, that Mozart's work be played at his funeral.

This wish was fulfilled during the ceremony at the Madeleine Church in Paris on October 30, 1849, and his sister Ludwika later brought his heart to Warsaw as he had requested.

Chopin's grave at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris remains a popular destination for admirers from around the world.

Chopin's grave at the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris. Photo: DIMSFIKAS [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Chopin's grave at the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris. Photo: DIMSFIKAS [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

(mk/gs)