'Chopin and his Europe' Festival celebrates its namesake

CAIRO – 22 August 2017: The annual 'Chopin and his Europe' Festival, held in Warsaw and currently running from August 12 to August 23, celebrates the life and work of Poland's greatest pianist and composer Frédéric Chopin. The Festival is in parts entertainment and education, an international music project with the primary aim of spreading Chopin's talent across the world.

Chopin was born in 1810, Warsaw. He was a child prodigy whose immense talent quickly became recognized at the age of 8, where he began to outclass even his own teachers. Though hailed in Poland, Chopin himself left his home country for Paris at the age of 20 and never returned, seeking greater heights to follow his incredible skills.

His most active years were the mid to late 1830s, where he completed some of his best known work such as Piano Sonata no. 2, Op 35. Alas, a chronic lung condition combined with bad weather would spell the end for the beloved musician, and so he passed away of illness on October 17, 1849.

Still, his legacy endures. Founded in 2001, the Frédéric Chopin Institute was created as a means of preserving Poland's greatest cultural legacies. The institute is responsible for the 'Chopin and his Europe' Festival. Not only is it a tribute to the musician, but also to his inspirations, the celebration of other polish musicians and the showcasing of contemporary artists such as Martha Argerich, Jan Lisiecki, Seong-Jin Cho and others.