In the Footsteps of Chopin

Frederic Chopin left a musical legacy of some 225 works, yet what we know of the great composer is largely cliched. A master of Romantic music, Chopin was a complex personality with a dual allegiance to his native Poland and his adopted France. In death, his body lies in Paris but, at his own request, his heart is buried in Warsaw. Our examination of his life leads from Poland to France and Majorca to uncover the diverse influences on his music. Shedding light on the great pianist are Chopin expert Yves Henry and Polish pianist Janusz Olejniszak, who recorded the Chopin soundtrack for Polanski s film The Pianist.