The Year of CHOPIN

Chopin, Polish? Was he not French? We must admit that, while the master of Romantic music won our hearts during his exile in Paris, it was indeed in the Duchy of Warsaw that he was born on March 1st 1810. However, that is not an issue. He was one of us, someone close to us (who has not been moved to tears by one of his mazurka or polonaise?), a kindred spirit that we are celebrating during this wonderful bicentennial year—and probably one of the greatest musical events in recent history.

Genius must be celebrated in a worthy manner. It cannot bear mediocrity and demands we rise to the occasion. That is why La Fugue is not only offering the most beautiful Chopin travel events of the season, but also and above all, thanks to our unique skills, the most exclusive: an evening at the beautiful Musée de la Vie Romantique in Paris and private tour, before the grand opening on March 1st, of the Chopin exhibition; discovery of the magnificent Bösendorfer workshops that have produced some of the world’s most extraordinary pianos; a visit to the artist’s most intimate getaway, George Sand's estate in Nohant. Finally, a thousand musical surprises in the company of the greatest names in music will punctuate our voyages to the very heart of Chopin's life.

We have selected the most exceptional events around the key musical programmes of the Chopin bicentennial. Of course, the days leading up to and after his birthday will be rich in festivities.

Thus, we are organising a fabulous tour of the composer’s native Poland from February 22nd to March 4th (when the major Bicentennial festivities will be held), Vienna, the city of his early successes, then Paris where he lived until his death and Nohant, his country hideaway.
We will then travel to Majorca in summer, where he and George Sand stayed during their tumultuous relationship, while the highlight of autumn will be the International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. The dates and detailed programmes of these last two trips will be announced soon.

Together, let us rediscover the multiple facets of the composer: Classical and Romantic, Polish and French, worldly and melancholy, musical virtuoso and poet, Chopin is not the man he appears to be. Following the stages of his career, the pathways of his development, the winding road of his life, as a man and artist, will perhaps enable us to better understand and hear his unique voice – by listening more closely.