Fryderyk Chopin Museum

• The Fryderyk Chopin Museum in Warsaw is the world’s largest collection of documents, works of art and other objects linked to Fryderyk Chopin
• The musical manuscripts, letters, instruments, and historical and contemporary portraits in the Chopin Museum collection shed light on the composer’s life and creative process, as well as his influence up to the present day and over successive generations in different ways
• The Chopin Museum collection presents diverse interpretations of his life and works
• The Chopin Museum, possessing the largest Chopin collection in the world, functions under the aegis of the Fryderyk Chopin Institute, which disseminates knowledge about the composer and organises the International Fryderyk Chopin piano competition

The Fryderyk Chopin Museum holds the world’s largest Chopin collection, featuring the composer’s last piano, many of his musical instruments, and letters, portraits and other objects that together provide a unique insight into his life, music and creative process.

The history of the Chopin Museum dates back to 1934, and today it functions under the aegis of the Chopin Institute, set up by parliament in 2001 to safeguard and disseminate the Chopin heritage. The institute organises concerts and piano competitions, including the International Chopin Competition, and pursues scholarly, educational, publishing and phonographic work.

The selection of objects presented in this book is complemented by recordings of Chopin’s music, all made on period instruments. Although the objects relate to the composer’s biography in a fragmentary way, the selection is designed to enable readers to gain a fuller picture of his music and his character.

Also available in Polish, French and Japanese editions.

Maciej Janicki has been the curator of the Fryderyk Chopin Museum, Warsaw, since 2012. He has prepared exhibitions devoted to Chopin in historical and contemporary contexts. He studied Musicology and Art History at the University of Warsaw.