Concert to mark anniversary of Chopin’s death

A special concert will be held on Saturday at Warsaw’s Holy Cross Church to mark 177 years since the death of Romantic composer Fryderyk Chopin.

Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849).

Image: Biblioteka Narodowa/Polona, Public domain

In keeping with a long-standing tradition, Mozart’s Requiem will be performed at the church in tribute to Chopin.

The work was originally performed during the composer's funeral service at the Church of the Madeleine in Paris on October 30, 1849, in accordance with his last wish.

Chopin died in Paris on October 17, 1849, aged 39.

Chopin's grave at the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris. Photo: DIMSFIKAS [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Warsaw church houses the composer's heart, which is interred inside one of the pillars after being brought to Poland by his sister.

Chopin's heart is interred at the Holy Cross Church in Warsaw. Photo: Zala, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

This year, Mozart’s Requiem will be performed in its original chamber version by Poland's Apollon Musagète Quartett, made up of violinists Paweł Zalejski and Bartosz Zachłod, violist Piotr Szumieł and cellist Piotr Skweres.

(mk/gs)