Chopin, Frédéric François

Polish composer and pianist. He made his debut as a pianist at the age of eight. As a performer, Chopin revolutionized the technique of pianoforte-playing, turning the hands outward and favouring a light, responsive touch. His compositions, which include two piano concertos and other orchestral works, have great changes of mood, and flowing rhythms.

From 1831 he lived in Paris, France, where he became known in the fashionable salons, although he rarely performed in public. In 1836 the composer Franz Liszt introduced him to George Sand (Madame Dudevant), with whom he had a close relationship in 1838–46. During this time she nursed him in Mallorca for tuberculosis, while he composed intensively and for a time regained his health. His music was used as the basis of the ballet Les Sylphides by Mikhail Fokine in 1909 and orchestrated by Alexander Gretchaninov (1864–1956), a pupil of Mikhail Rimsky-Korsakov.