Officers & DirectorsKrzysztof Penderecki - Honorary ChairmanBlanka A. Rosenstiel - Founder & President

Olga Melin - Vice President Richard Lubman - Treasurer Renate Ryan - Secretary

DirectorsAgustin Anievas, Roberta O. Chaplin, Norman Edelcup, Rosa Rita Gonzalez,Keith Gray, Edith Hall Friedheim, Dr. William J. Hipp, Lorraine Sonnabend

Artistic Consultants PanelDr. Adam Aleksander, ChairAgustin Anievas, Kevin Kenner & Margarita Shevchenko

Executive DirectorJadwiga Viga Gewert

Regional Councils of the Chopin FoundationSan Francisco Chopin Council—Mack McCray, PresidentNorthwest Chopin Council—Allan Park, PresidentVirginia Chopin Council—Robert Joskowiak, President

Scholarship CommitteeDr. Adam Aleksander, Peter Miyamoto, Tian Ying

Advisory BoardBonnie Barrett - Yamaha Artist ServicesJoel Harrison - American Pianists AssociationGary Ingle - Music Teachers National AssociationRon Losby - Steinway & Sons

International Artistic Advisory CouncilAgustin Anievas, Martha Argerich, Emanuel Ax, Jeffrey N. Babcock,John Bayless, Luiz Fernando Benedini, John Corigliano, Ivan Davis,Christopher T. Dunworth, Charles Dutoit, Nelson Freire,Bruno Leonardo Gelber, Gary Graffman, Horacio Gutierrez,Marta Istomin, Byron Janis, James Judd, Cyprien Katsaris,Zoltan Koscis, Garrick Ohlsson, Paloma O’Shea, Daniel Pollack,Maurizio Pollini, Abbey Simon, Michael Tilson Thomas,Charles Wadsworth, Susan Wadsworth, Krystian Zimerman

EditorialPolonaise is published semi-annually by the Chopin Foundation of the USA1440 79th Street Causeway, Suite 117, Miami, FL 33141

Editorial Office: 305.868.0624 • 305.865.5150 (Fax)

E-mail: info@chopin.org • Website: www.chopin.org

Publisher: Lady Blanka A. Rosenstiel

Executive Editor: Jadwiga Viga Gewert

Editor: Barbara Muze, Marketing/Development Manager

Contributors: Allan Park, Robert Joskowiak, Mack McCray, Beata Paszyc,

Lynne Schaefer, Dr. Slawomir Dobrzanski, Dr. Alan Walker, Piotr Myslakowski

Design: Rick Tuckerman, Zoom IQ Creative Marketing

Message from the Founder and President.......................................... 2

Donors and Contributors ....................................................................................... 3

Message from the Executive Director .............................................................4

2018 Frost Chopin Festival and Academy ........................................................5

2017/2018 Scholarship Recipients ............................................................................. 6

Scholarship Program for Young Pianists ............................................................... 7

Antoni Katski by Dr. Slawomir Dobrzanski ...................................................................7

2017-2018 Concert Season ..........................................................................................................8

Sponsor Highlight—Olga and David Melin ...........................................................................9

The Winding Paths of Chopin’s Biographers, by P. Myslakowski .................... 10-12

Our Sponsors ..................................................................................................................................................13

Chopin Foundation Council of San Francisco ....................................................................... 14

Chopin Foundation Council of Northwest .....................................................................................15

Chopin Foundation Council of Virginia ..............................................................................................16

Contributions and Donation Form ..........................................................................................................17

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FALL 2017Volume XVIII / Number 1

Cover photo: Zelazowa Wola, historical place in Poland, where Fryderyk Chopin was born. Now the Museum of Frederic Chopin. Photo credit: Marzena Hmielewicz/AdventurePictures/Alamy Stock Photo

Copyright © Chopin Foundation of the United States, Inc. All rights reserved.

CHOPIN FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED STATES, INC.

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Dear Friends, It is always with such joy that I am able to come to you, our audience, music teachers, members, supporters and friends, with new and exciting information about the Chopin Foundation and its many activities. It is beyond my dreams to have been able to share this joy now for forty-years. In this edition of the Polonaise, you will find even more good news. First, I would like to tell you about a new initiative in partnership with the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. The very first Frost Chopin Academy & Festival will take place in June of 2018. Our dear friend, extraordinary pianist and brilliant teacher, Kevin Kenner, who is now on the faculty at UM, will be coordinating the program. The Academy will also feature internationally recognized Chopin specialists, Dang Thai Son, Katarzyna Popowa-Zydron and Margarita Shevchenko. What a unique and extraordinary opportunity for piano students – having a chance to study Chopin’s music with four great masters who have been top winners of the International Chopin Piano Festival in Warsaw and/or served on the Competition’s jury! We are beyond thrilled to be bringing this terrific program and these great pianists to Miami. Please stay tuned for more details in the near future.

We are also very happy to announce this year’s recipients of the Chopin Scholarship Program for Young Pianists. I am delighted to see the many new faces of talented young people who work so hard to achieve this

coveted award. This year we have selected 18 students – the largest number in the program’s history – to receive up to $1,000 to be used to continue their study of the piano. We are only able to help these deserving young artists because of the generosity of our donors who believe in helping these students receive the tools they need to succeed.

Both of these activities, the new Chopin Academy and our Scholarship Program which has been presenting awards since 1998, are designed to provide young pianists with the education and guidance necessary to master the Chopin repertoire required to participate in our National Chopin Piano Competition. We hope they will then go on to represent the US at the International Competition in Warsaw. The next National Chopin Piano Competition will take place in February 2020, so there is not too much time left for pianists to prepare to enter, since the application deadline is November 1, 2019. The Chopin Foundation meanwhile, has been vigorously campaigning to raise the funds necessary to make the Competition a great success again.

Please consider contributing to our worthy efforts. No gift is too small and each donated dollar goes directly to helping promote the artists and making classical music accessible to the public. Now more than ever, we need to keep the Chopin Foundation’s mission alive. We thank you deeply for your kind support and look forward to bringing you exciting news and events long into the future.

Message From the Founder and President

“I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning.”

PLATO

Blanka A. RosentielFounder and President

FounderLady Blanka A. Rosenstiel

Grand Benefactors* Harvey & Roberta Chaplin* Keith & Agnes GrayMark & Brenda FountainFunding Arts Network* Marvin & Isa Leibowitz * Richard & Terry Lubman* Olga & David Melin* Ligia Wiegand

Benefactors* Ruby Bacardi * Norman Edelcup* Rosa-Rita Gonzalez* Edith Hall Friedheim* Iga Henderson* Paul and Beatriz Hicks * Dr. William & Frankie Hipp* Norman & Margaretha Leathers* Janine Lennox* Renate Ryan * Stephen & Lorraine Sonnabend

Patrons* Keiko Alexander* Idelia Alvarado* Hilda Andrews* Drs. David Drucker & Lynn Atkinson* Evelyn Axler* Manuel & Rebecca BaezPhilip Balbi* Erica Balogh & Jim Barklow* George Berberian* Jewel Bertman* Irmengard “Ika” Bettendorf* Manya Blechman* Charles Block* Sheila Brauchler* Jasper & Carol Brock

* Andrzej Bytnar* S. Peter Capua. Esq.* Kay Carpenter & B G Carter * Buddy & Dina CohenLucette Comer* Barbara Cooper* Carmen Cuenca* Dr. Carlos J. & Mrs. Carmen Dominguez* Eldris De La TorreWendy Erickson* Olga Figueras* Roberto & Maritza Friedman* Ariel Garcia & Ursula Zolnierska* Margarita Garcia* Pamela Jo Garrison* Lenore GaynorDonna Genet* Gerry Gibson*Sonia & Michael Gleit* Marcia Green* David & Lucille Godnik* Chie Hoban* Daniel & Sybille HolderHelene HougeCamille Howe* Chris Humberstone & Luisa Ruffin* William Hutchinson* Dr. Kurien & Mrs. Jasmin Jacob* Zbigniew & Raquel Jarosz* Zelda Jensen* Alfred Jonas* Michael & Susan Kaufman* Inna Kessel* Eva Kordos* Leda KwiatekEleanor Kyung* Sonia & Barbara LagunaDr. Joseph Lavinio* Christopher & Barbara Lunding* Hon. Bruce Mencher* Avis Lee Neiman* Dr. Jose & Maria Perez-Rivas

* Tiana Pierce* Ralph & Elizabeth Piotrovsky* Luis & Esther Pujol* Daisy RichardsonHedy Ringger & Jolanta Bak * Carlos Rivas & Maria C. AguileraMiriam Rodriguez * Carole Romer & William Nigh* Andrew Rosenthal* Alicja SchoonoverDolores Seidon* Peter & Lisa Seite* Margaret Seroppian* Cecily Silberman* Sandra Simon* Clara Sredni* Zygmunt Staszewski* Barbara Stephens* Richard & Margarita Tonkinson* Duane & Liliana Treeman* Jacqueline TuozzoloMigdania VegaJon Verbalis* Gerrit & Tatiana Verburg* Jean Warner* Hadley & Jennifer Williams* Julie & Bob Williamson * Shelby Dennis Winstead* Lawrence Wong* Brenda Yarbrough

FriendsSonia AlcazarMarian AlpersteinAda AntunezRichard AppelbaumJames Campbell

Miriam CastellanosJack & Charlotte CohenEdith CubasGrecia FalconElyse FreedmanWalter FrohlichEva GranatowskiChuck GreifElyse HabermanPetrina HurlbertJudith HutchinsonAnita KaplanEwa MekwinskiTeresa MestreClaire MorgaLi Chiung MoyantYrene ParesWojciech PutzEugene RossLeonard SanginarioIsolina SantiagoMerle SchneiderEileen M. SettonSamuel SmithLeah SpielbergChristine StrahanAnthony TraveisMaria Zayas

Corporate SponsorsAmerican Pianists Association Friends of Broward LibrariesGray & Sons Jewelers* Greater Miami Convention & Visitors BureauMusic Teachers National Association

POLONAISE FALL 2017 // 3

We extend our deepest thanksto those whose vision and support have helped us this year with our

mission: to develop the next generation of great musicians! May we continueto add to this esteemed roster others who would join us in support of our mission.

Piano Music Center / Tony SicilianoSouthern Glazer’s Wine & SpiritsVillage of Key BiscayneYamaha Artist Services, Inc.

Foundations/TrustsAudrey Love Charitable FoundationThe Batchelor FoundationThe Rosenstiel FoundationFlorman Family FoundationLouis Leibowitz Charitable TrustGarvin Family Charitable Foundation

Government GrantsCity of Coral GablesMiami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of CommissionersMiami-Dade County Tourist Development CouncilCity of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts CouncilState of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council of Arts and Culture

Donors and Contributors

* Chopin Foundation Member

It is really amazing so see how Chopin’s music is so loved by our audience – people simply can’t get enough of it! After repeated requests from audience members, our concerts include Chopin’s music for at least half of the program. Many in the audience will literally sigh with pleasure each time they hear the first notes of a

familiar Mazurka or Polonaise, especially when it follows a contemporary or less familiar piece! It gives us a great pleasure to hear these audible sighs of appreciation – it reassures us that we are doing the right thing! And we have been doing it for more than forty years in the same, classical form – no special transcriptions, no visual effects - just pure music!

Of course, we do introduce other composers at our Chopin concerts, and the pianists want to play a more diversified program as well – but - Chopin will always be there in the program at each of our concerts!

We are especially proud of our annual Young Pianists Concerts that feature local piano students and showcase Florida-based students. It is a great opportunity to work together with local piano teachers and encourage the study of Chopin’s music. Last April, as part of our Chopin for All series, we proudly presented two all-Chopin concerts by 25 of the best young

“Chopinists” from Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. And they played very well!

Our closing concert featured young American pianist, Reed Tetzloff, performing the music of Schumann and Chopin – what could be a more proper conclusion for the Chopin for All free concert series!

Please see the announcement of the new 2017-18 season, bringing more Chopin and more of the young musical talent that our South Florida audiences have come to appreciate. If you are not able to join us in person, please visit our Chopin Video Channel on our website at www.chopin.org where all the concerts will be posted.

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Message from the Executive Director

Jadwiga Viga GewertExecutive Director

Broward Young Pianists Miami-Dade Young Pianists

Reed Tetzloff with fans

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Rolando Alejandro, 18Second YearGuaynabo, PRThe Juilliard SchoolPiano Teacher: Dr. Matti Raekallio

Eriko Darcy, 15First YearChicago, ILLatin School of ChicagoPiano Teacher:George Vatchnadze

Jia Ling Diau, 16First YearEl Paso, TXMaxine L. Silva Magnet High SchoolPiano Teacher:Dr. Oscar Macchioni

Stephanie Ding Draughon, 14First YearAshburn, VAManhattan School of Music,Pre-College DivisionPiano Teacher: Miyoko Lotto

2017/2018 Scholarship Recipients

Avery Gagliano, 15Second YearBala Cynwyd, PACurtis Institute of MusicPiano Teachers:Gary Graffman andJonathan Biss

Eric Gan, 14First YearFoster City, CAAragon High SchoolPiano Teacher:Dr. Igor Shochetman

Ziyao “Chelsea” Guo, 16Second YearDarien, CTThe Juilliard SchoolPre-College DivisionPiano Teachers:Prof. Hung-Kuan Chen and Tema Blackstone

Kimberly Han, 16Second YearLake Forest, ILLake Forest High SchoolPiano Teacher:Brenda Huang/Alexander Korsantia

Ryan Leung, 17First YearHong KongEton College, London, UKPiano Teacher:Joan Havill

Angeline Ma, 14First YearBerwyn, PAConestoga High SchoolPiano Teacher:Susan Starr

Nita Qui, 15First YearWoodbury, MNTrinity School at River RidgePiano Teacher:Dr. Joseph Zins

Victor Shlyakhtenko, 15Second YearLos Angeles, CAColburn Community School of Performing ArtsPiano Teacher:Teresa de Jong Pombo

William Tang, 15Second YearWoodside, NYHunter College High School/Manhattan School of MusicPre-College DivisionPiano Teacher:Miyoko Lotto

Anqui Xu, 17Second YearNew Providence, NJUCVTS Magnet High School/Manhattan School of MusicPre-College DivisionPiano Teacher:Miyoko Lotto

Samuel Xu, 16Second YearChandler, AZArizona Virtual AcademyPiano Teacher:Fei Xu

Ana Yam, 14First YearAmes, IAAmes High SchoolPiano Teacher:Larisa Kanevski

Katie Liu, 14First YearPittsburgh, PAMontour High SchoolPiano Teacher:Natasha Snitkovsky

Ishan Loomba, 15Second YearAlbuquerque, NMEarly College AcademyPiano Teacher:Dr. Carol Leone

The purpose of the Chopin Foundation Scholarship Program is to support and encourage young, talented American pianists through up to four years of preparation for the National Chopin Piano Competition of the United States, which is held in Miami, Florida, every five years. Renewable scholarships of $1,000 are awarded each year on a competitive basis to outstanding young American pianists who demonstrate a special affinity for the interpretation of Frédéric Chopin’s music. In addition, the Scholarship Committee may grant half-awards in the amount of $500 to qualified applicants. A half-award may be granted to an applicant only once during the four-year program.

EligibilityThe Scholarship Program is open to all qualified American pianists (US citizens or legal residents) not younger than 14 and not older than 17 years of age on May 15 of their first year of application.

ProcedureAll Scholarship applications must be submitted online. Please visit the Chopin Foundation website, www.chopin.org for complete requirements and procedures.

PLEASE READ ALL ONLINE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION.

A complete application and recording of required Chopin repertoire are required for EACH year of the scholarship program.

Please use the online application link to www.GetAcceptd.com. Applications, along with all attachments must be received by May 15th. Scholarships will be announced by July 15th. Please contact the Chopin Foundation with any questions.

The Chopin Foundation of the United States, Inc.Phone: (305) 868-0624Web: www.chopin.orgEmail: info@chopin.org

Scholarship Program for Young Pianists

POLONAISE FALL 2017 // 7

Pianist, Composer, Globetrotter, and Chopin’s Parisian Colleague

By Dr. Slawomir Dobrzanski

n the late evening hours on Tuesday, May 26, 1845, Fryderyk Chopin performed at the Parisian Hotel Lambert for his most devoted and faithful friends, Prince Adam Czartoryski and his family. This time, however, Chopin brought with him an energetic, enormously talented

and extremely ambitious Polish pianist, Antoni Kątski. They shared the music making that evening, but, for reasons not entirely clear, their paths were never to cross again.

Who was Antoni Kątski (1817-1899), known also as Chevalier Anton de Kontski?

Kontski’s biography would take up several large volumes and it might serve as a basis for a great historic saga. The pianist, born in Kraków, studied with John Field in Moscow and Sigismond Thalberg in Vienna, and later presented himself as Beethoven’s only surviving student. After over a decade in Paris, Kontski became the Court Pianist to the Emperor of Prussia. Ever on the move, he then settled in St. Petersburg (1854-1867), London (1867-1883), and in the United States. He became an American citizen in 1892.

In his final years, Kontski undertook a concert tour around the world, from Australia and New Zealand, through South Asia, Japan, to Russia. He was the first European pianist to perform in the Philippines, the first Polish musician to give concerts in Japan, and, interestingly, he is remembered also as the first musician to transcribe Azerbaidjani folk music into the western notation. He performed literally thousands of piano recitals worldwide. He died in 1899 in Ukraine on the way back to Poland.

Kontski is the author of over 400 compositions. His output includes solo piano works, chamber music and even operas.

The first recording of his solo piano music was just released by the Polish label Acte Prealable. It can be ordered through amazon.com or at:www.acteprealable.com orhttp://acteprealable.com/albums/new_ap0388.html

Anton de Kontski

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2017-2018 Concert Season

CHOPIN FOR ALL FREE CONCERTSUnderwritten by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits All Concerts in this series are presented twice:

Saturdays, 3:00 pm / Broward County Main Library100 S. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale

Sundays, 3:00 pm / Granada Presbyterian Church950 University Drive, Coral Gables

November 4 & 5, 2017 / ELZBIETA BILICKAPrize winner of the 2016 International Paderewski Competition

December 2 & 3, 2017 / TIMOTHY JONES2017 winner, the Music Teachers National Association’s Competition

January 13 & 14, 2018 / ALEX BEYERPrize winner of both the 2015 National Chopin and International Queen Elisabeth Competitions

February 10 & 11, 2018 / ATHENA TSIANOSOutstanding young American pianist

March 3 & 4, 2018 / KATE LIUBronze Medalist of the 2015 Int’l Chopin Competition in Warsaw

April 21 & 22, 2018 / YOUNG PIANISTS CONCERTSSelected local piano students in an All-Chopin program

May 19 & 20, 2018 / DREW PETERSENWinner of the 2017 American Pianists Award

SALON CONCERTSLa Gorce Country Club, 4:00pm5785 Alton Road, Miami Beach, FL 33410

Nov 19, 2017 YVES HENRY – Internationally acclaimed French pianist Underwritten by Barnes International Realty Miami

Jan 21, 2018 MEI-TING SUN – Winner of the 2005 National Chopin Competition Underwritten by Ligia Wiegand

April 15, 2018 ANDREW ARMSTRONG, Silver Medalist of the 1995 National Chopin Competition & FRANK ALMOND, violinist, concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Underwritten by David & Olga Melin

SPECIAL EVENTSFeb 25, 2018 CHOPIN AT KEY BISCAYNE Ewa Danilewska, an outstanding young pianist from Poland Presented in partnership with the Village of Key Biscayne atthe Key Biscayne Community Center. Free Admission.

April 17, 2018 RAFAL BLECHACZ Winner of the 2005, Int’l Chopin Competition in Warsaw

Co-presented with Miami Friends of Chamber Music.Coral Gables Congregational Church.Special rates for Chopin members.

POLONAISE FALL 2017 // 9

Sponsor Highlight—Olga and David Melin

lga and David Melin have been active supporters of many cultural, environmental and educational organizations in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, Florida, as well as in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Mrs. Melin, a Vice-president and long-time Board member of the Chopin Foundation, has been involved in many other cultural organizations in various capacities. Among them are Funding Arts Network, Miami Music Festival, Barry University, Frost School of Music, New World Symphony, Miami City Ballet, and the Sun Valley Symphony, just to mention a few. In addition, she is a second-generation supporter of the Florida Grand Opera since her parents, Martin and Elizabeth Antonova Feinman were among the founders of the Miami Opera in 1941. Olga Melin currently serves on the Board of FGO’s Guild.

A passionate lover of nature, in her spare time, Olga loves to fish. She is a member of the International Women’s Fishing Association (IWFA), a champion angler, and holds world records in the International Game Fish Association (IGFA).

Mr. Melin, a retired business executive, was founder and Chair of the Board of Tech Aerofoam Products, Inc., a building materials company with plants in southeastern U.S. and Puerto Rico. Mrs. Melin is a graduate of the University of Miami and worked in the field of nutrition in Houston and Montreal, before returning to Miami In 1965 and joining the family business in retail and real estate. Her optimism, leadership and early advocacy for development of the core area of the present Miami Art and Design District, earned the respect of her peers.

David and Olga’s mutual interests are breeding and racing thoroughbred horses, golfing, and enjoying the visual and performing arts. They have been married for over forty years, and together have spent their time and financial resources to make South Florida a better place to live. David and Olga have three daughters, one son, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. They have the good fortune to have a wonderful life—and the generous nature to share it with others.

David & Olga Melin with Eric Zuber at the2015 National Chopin Piano Competition

Olga and David Melin

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ryderyk Chopin, Poland’s greatest national treasure, enjoys an even greater

celebrity than Pope John Paul II and President Lech Walesa - his fellow Poles.

He has been the subject of more than 12,000 books and the topic of countless articles, in

both the professional and popular press. Most of this literature focuses on his compositions and his pianistic virtuosity. Only a fraction deals with his life, his personality, and the socio-historical forces in play at the time. And hardly any of it is based on original source material. The vast majority of these publications borrow heavily from a small handful of biographies written just a few years after Chopin’s death, in particular from books by such authors such as Frederick Niecks, Maurycy Karasowski, and Ferdynand Hoesick. The generation of biographers that followed, including Nowaczyński, Zamoyski, Wierzyński, Broszkiewicz, Iwaszkiewicz, only interpreted the findings of their predecessors without questioning the sources. Additionally, non-Polish speaking musicologists came to dominate today’s discourse about the composer, but their superficial knowledge about the historical, social and cultural background of Chopin’s early years simply adds to the problem.

Chopin’s first biographies were based mainly on information obtained from his relatives and friends, and included material that today would be dismissed as gossip. This led to the creation of several “literary” biographies that were little better than novels, based as they were onfallacious material. These imaginary stories of Chopin’s life were then accepted as historical truth, and their completely fictitious “facts” became firmly lodged within the official body of knowledge about the composer.

This rather confusing state of affairs led me and my fellow genealogist Andrzej Sikorski to

undertake new archival research. Conducted over a period of twenty years or so, our findings allowed us to correct and clarify several myths and half-truths circulating in the literature, especially with regards to Chopin’s family and its origins. The discovery of several dozen previously unknown documents shed new light on the life of Chopin’s grandparents, for example, and therefore on the childhood and youth of Chopin’s mother Justyna as well. As we know, she had an enormous influence on his life.

Our book “Fryderyk Chopin: the Origins” (Warsaw, 2009) was the final result of these inquiries. 1

Interestingly, our research did not come to any final conclusions about some persistent biographical riddles - the most significant of which was the actual date of the composer’s birth. This could well be described as the most absorbing puzzle to emerge from the story of his life. The issue is not really about convincing anybody of what the correct date is (the world is divided into the “believers in February 22” and the “believers in March 1”), but about some obvious contradictions in the original documents, which normally would provide us with final and unquestionable proof. What is really troubling is that these documents not only give us two different days as Chopin’s birthday (March 1 and February 22), but also two different years – 1810 and 1809.

Each of these altogether four calendar combinations can be seen as fully justified! The Chopin University of Music in Warsaw chose February 22, while the Chopin Institute in Warsaw “believes in” March 1. The possibility of 1809 as the year of Chopin’s birth, ignored by both institutions, was left to historians and scholars to debate in perpetuity. The reality is that one had to agree on something, especially since we were going to celebrate worldwide the bicentennial of Chopin’s birth in 2010!

Where exactly is the problem? It appears that we have to resign ourselves to the fact that the final and definitive proof indicating the exact date of Chopin’s birth simply does not exist, at least for now. What remains are only individual interpretations based on original documents.

The introduction of the Napoléonic Code in the Duchy of Warsaw in 1807 led to the establishment of a modern civil registry. Until that time, the only written records containing information about births were in church registries compiled by the clergy (parish priests, pastors, rabbis, etc.) These, however, dealt with the documentation of religious rituals, like the sacrament of baptism. The new civil registries were to contain only births, marriages, and deaths. The duty of the new-born child’s father was to report the birth to the authorities within three days (this grace period was later extended to eight days). The official in charge of civic registries in each county was customarily the rector of the local parish, an area usually geograpically identical with that of the county.

In contrast to today’s practice, copies of birth or baptismal certificates were not given to the family. One could request a copy later when the need arose, such as for marriage or perhaps for certifying one’s noble ancestry. This state of affairs was also the reason why Chopin’s family (including Chopin himself) never actually saw Fryderyk‘s birth certificate. Therefore, one could say, they had no opportunity to suggest possible corrections.

The most widely accepted date of birth of the composer has always been March 1. This information takes us directly back to his first biographers (Józef Sikorski, Maurycy Karasowski, Oskar Kolberg etc.), who took the opportunity to talk to Chopin‘s mother and his sister, Izabella Barcińska. This date was also given by the composer

by Piotr Mysłakowski

The Winding Paths of Chopin’s Biographers

POLONAISE FALL 2017 // 11

himself in his letter to the Polish Literary Society in Paris. 2 Furthermore, Chopin‘s correspondence indicates that all the people closest to him celebrated his birthday on March 1.

In 1893, Father Tomasz Bielawski, at that time rector of the Brochów parish church where Chopin was baptised, caused quite a sensation when he published in the press the ecclesiastical records pertaining to Chopin’s baptism. The document was authenticated and the date of February 22 immediately began to circulate in academic circles. As a result, the information on the memorial plaque in the Holy Cross Church in Warsaw, where Chopin’s heart is resting, was updated.

The matter is more complicated still, because the original date of March 1 was actually supposed to refer to the year 1809! This date was agreed upon by all of Chopin’s early biographers. It was given by Chopin’s confidant and editor Julian Fontana, and it was also shown on the memorial plaque at the Holy Cross Church in Warsaw, the unveiling of which was attended by all Fryderyk’s relatives. Only Chopin himself in Paris wrote in the above-quoted letter “born on the 1st of March 1810.”

While there is no way in this short article to discuss the pros and cons of each of these possible dates3, it is worth taking a closer look at the two, luckily well-preserved documents concerning Fryderyk’s birth: namely, his baptismal certificate and his birth certificate.

From the Latin baptismal certificate dated the 23rd of April, 1810 we can clearly conclude that on this very day the fulfilment of the ceremony of baptism took place, performed earlier “from water” (we do not know the date!). What this meant was that shortly after birth – and facing the possibility of a new-born’s death – the infant was baptised “ex aqua”, in a simplified way. This act could be performed at home by any Christian and no document had to be prepared. After the danger had passed, the godparents and guests were invited to the ceremony of “fulfillment” in church, which in

reality could in some cases take place even a few years after the child’s birth.4 Chopin’s godparents were Anna Skarbek and Franciszek Grembecki. The latter was most likely a substitute for Fryderyk Skarbek (Chopin’s acknowledged godfather, after whom he is named), which is yet another argument for the actual birth taking place in 1809. Skarbek could only have been present at the baptism “from water“ (at birth) in 1809, for one year later he was already a student in Paris.

The civil record of birth, prepared in Polish by a new priest, Father Jan Duchnowski, in 1810, states that “Before me there appeared Mikołaj Chopin, the father, forty years old, resident of the village Żelazowa Wola and showed us a male child, which was born in his house, on the twenty second day of the month of February, at 6 o’clock in the evening of the present year, […] and that his wish is that the child be called with two names Frydrych Franciszek…“. Therefore, “the present year“ means 1810.

There have been several hypotheses attempting to clarify how the confusion regarding the actual day of birth could have arisen, including the absurd possibility that the father was so overwhelmed with joy at having a new-born son that at the time of reporting he was simply not quite sober ! None of these hypotheses seem to be entirely satisfactory, even the one that states that such mistakes were very common at that time. Let us add, however, that Fryderyk Skarbek, Chopin’s godfather, had exactly the same problem, which he wrote about in his Memoirs 5 : “On which day of February was I born into this world? This I really do not know with any certainty because my mother, who should know best, wrote it down for the 22nd of February […], while the official note obtained from St. John’s Church in Toruń makes me seven days older…”.

If we are to believe Chopin‘s mother and his closest relatives we would still be left with the problem of the actual year of Chopin’s birth. The initial answer here appears to be rather simple: Fryderyk himself wrote “1810“ in the above-quoted letter to the

Literary Society in Paris. Let us ask then, how did Chopin actually arrive at this year?

The composer Franz Liszt provides us with an answer 6 . Chopin counted the year from a souvenir watch gifted to him by

the celebrated singer Angelica Catalani on the 3rd of January 1820.

On the watch, the singer engraved the following inscription: “…à Frédéric Chopin agé de dix ans” (“to the 10 year old Fryderyk“). But Chopin could only be 10 years old in January 1820 if he were born in 1809. There are more examples like this.

On the dedication page of Chopin’s juvenile Polonaise in B-flat major (composed and published in 1818) we read: “musicien agé de huit ans“ - “eight year old musician“, while the review of this composition, printed in Pamiętnik Warszawski in January 1818 states clearly in Polish: “…the composer of this Polish dance, a youth who has just completed his eighth year...“. If Chopin had just completed his eighth year in January 1818, then, the conclusion seems to be that he was born in 1809. Naturally, those musicologists who consider the year 1810 to

Gold pocket watch(International WatchCompany) presented to Frederic Chopin by Angelica Catalani, with her dedication, in January 1820.

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be correct7 talk about “obvious mistakes” in both the dedication and the review – while agreeing at the same time that the composer’s father himself took care of both the publication of Chopin‘s Polonaise and its review - an obvious paradox. How was it possible that Mikołaj Chopin would allow the publication of a wrong date (1809)?

Perhaps one day we will witness the discovery of a document indicating that Chopin’s parents were not in Żelazowa Wola in 1810 at all! Or, maybe a memoir by an unknown guest of the Skarbek family at the time of Chopin’s supposed birth will be unearthed. All that is left to us until that blessed moment arrives is conjecture, and in its midst, of course, Chopin’s unparalleled, heavenly music.

(English Translation: Dr. Sławomir Dobrzański,Kansas State University)

Title page of the first printed edition of the Polonaise g-moll, dedicated to Countess Victoria Skarbek. Ed.Izydor Józef Cybulski, Warsaw, November 1817

Piotr Mysłakowski (b. 1944), a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, is an award winning interior and graphic designer, publisher, genealogist and chopinologist. He was the Vice-President of the International Federation of

Interior Architects/Designers (IFI), an expert for the UNESCO, and the Vice-President of the Polish Heraldic Association. He is an Honorary Memberof the Chopin Society of Canada.

Mr. Myslakowski was a scientific consultant for the Chopin Institute in Warsaw and played a crucial role in creating the multi-media commentary in the Chopin Museum in Warsaw.

He is the author of groundbreaking books in the area of genealogy and biographical research. Together with his research partner, Prof. Andrzej Sikorski, Piotr Mysłakowski co-authored several books devoted to Chopin, such as The Chopin’s Warsaw (2013) and Fryderyk Chopin. The Origins (2010), both available in English.

About the Author

1 Reviewed in the last issue of “Polonaise” by Dr. Alan Walker.2 Letter dated “January 16, 1833.” Correspondance de Frédéric Chopin, vol. 2, p.86. Edited, revised and annotated by Bronisław Edward Sydow, with Suzanne and Denise Chainaye. Paris, 1953-60.3 For detailed discussion of the subject see P. Mysłakowski and A. Sikorski, Okoliczności urodzin Fryderyka Chopina. Co mówią źródła, Ruch Muzyczny nr 20/2002 pp. 28-344 Fryderyk’s youngest sister, Emilia was also baptised “ex aqua” at home, and her fulfillment ceremony took place in church almost two-and-a-half years after her birth. In her case the exact date of the first ceremony was declared on the official certificate.5 Pamiętniki Fryderyka hrabiego Skarbka, complete edition, p. 35, edited by P. Mysłakowski, Warsaw 2009.6 F. Liszt, Chopin, p. 131, Paris 1852. 7 For example, Mieczysław Tomaszewski

POLONAISE FALL 2017 // 13

Our SponsorsThe Chopin Foundation’s programs are sponsored in part by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of Commissioners; the City of Coral Gables; the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council of Arts and Culture; the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council; numerous generous individuals; and the following:

14 // POLONAISE FALL 2017

The year has been a strong one for the San Francisco chapter. We thoroughly enjoyed a fine Chopin Birthday Concert by Eric Zuber, then in June we held one of our most successful Young Pianists Competitions. Altogether 60 young pianists competed, and on the following day at the Winners’ Concert, we heard some extraordinary talent that gives

us hope for the future. The Winners’ Concert and Awards Ceremony were held at the Chapel of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Francisco. The San Francisco Council now has 45 members and has recently welcomed two new members to our board, Qianshu Xia and Joanna Różewska

This year’s Holiday Concert will be on Sunday, December 3, 2017 at the Queen Anne Hotel in San Francisco, and the Chopin Birthday Concert will be on Sunday, February 25, 2018 at Old First Church in San Francisco.

Mack McCrayPresident

Chopin Foundation Council of San Francisco

FIRST AGE CATEGORY (THROUGH 9 )First Prize - Stanley Du Second Prize - Cecilia ZhouThird Prize - Xinran Shi

Honorable Mention - Jasleen Lu Honorable Mention - Emily Tsai

SECOND AGE CATEGORY (10-12)First Prize - Emma LeeSecond Prize - Riley Kong Third Prize - Elizabeth Floyd

Honorable Mention - Sarah YuanHonorable Mention - Jeston Lu

THIRD AGE CATEGORY (13-15)First Prize – Catherine HuangSecond Prize – Melody ChoiThird Prize - Joshua Schiller

Honorable Mention - Irene Geng Honorable Mention - Curtis Li

2017 Chopin Young Pianists Competition’s winners:

2017 Competition’s winners with the members of the Board of the San Francisco Chopin Council

POLONAISE FALL 2017 // 15

Chopin Foundation Council of the Northwest

Allan ParkPresident

The Chopin Foundation of the United States, Northwest Council recently enjoyed several wonderful concerts as a result of our annual festival held in January. Our Concerto Division Gold Medalist, 16 year old Stephen Binondo, performed the entire Chopin Concerto in F minor with the prestigious Orchestra Seattle in May. Bowing to a standing ovation that lasted 10 minutes, Stephen brought the magic of Chopin to the Seattle audience with a flawless performance of the Chopin masterpiece. There were tears, smiles and amazement in the audience. Because of our reputation for showcasing the most outstanding pianists in our region, several other orchestras have requested that our Gold and Silver Medalists perform as the featured artist in their concert season. The newest additions of cooperating orchestras include Federal Way Symphony, Heritage Symphony and Cascade Symphony. Stephen will perform the entire concerto with the Cascade Symphony in their 2018 Concert Season with Maestro Michael Mirapolsky. Stephen Binondo is a student of Ms. Judy Baker.

On August 6, our 2017 Silver Medalist, Steve Silverberg, dazzled at the Hartley Mansion Chamber Music Festival by performing Chopin’s F minor Concerto, 1st movement with a chamber orchestra. He also performed an encore - Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53 “Heroic.” What a wonderful way to spread Chopin’s magic by performing these two iconic masterpieces! Steve Silverberg is a student of Dr. Sasha Starcevich.

On Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 7 pm, Eric Lu will be performing a solo program at Resonance at SOMA Towers in downtown Bellevue, Washington.

2017 Chopin NW Silver Medalist, Steve Silverberg with Everett Philharmonic Quintet

2017 Chopin NW Gold Medalist, Stephen Binondo with Orchestra Seattle. Left to Right: Dr. Steven Lagerberg,

Stephen Binondo, Judy Baker

Tickets can be purchased at http://resonance.events. Then on Sunday, October 15th at 3 pm, Eric will perform Chopin’s Concerto in E minor with Heritage Symphony of Kirkland at the Kirkland Performing Arts Center. Tickets can be purchased at www.kpcenter.org. For our national and international readers, Kirkland, Washington is located about 10 miles north of Seattle. Kirkland is surrounded by lush parks, hosts cultural festivals and borders Lake Washington. Eric will also perform a solo program at the Resonance at SOMA Towers in downtown Bellevue. Preconcert entertainment will include several medalists from our 2017 Chopin Festival. Our website, www.chopinnw.org, will have complete information as well as pre-concert programs for these two events. On Saturday, February 10, 2018, we will be having our festival for the 15th year! We predict around 200 pianists will participate. Our 2018 esteemed adjudicators are Dr. Peter Miyamoto, Piano faculty, University of Missouri; Dr. Robert Roux, Piano Chair and faculty, Rice University Shepard School of Music; Dr. Lisa Bergman, concert pianist and host, KingFM Classical; and Charlie Albright, concert pianist. We will be awarding Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.

POLONAISE FALL 2017 // 16

“. . . as pure a sonof liberty as I haveever known.” Thomas Jefferson

Kosciuszko Dayin Virginia

Robert JoskowiakPresident

Chopin Foundation Council of Virginia

It is with great pleasure that the Chopin Council of Virginia announces the celebration of It is with great pleasure that the Chopin Council of Virginia announces the celebration of Thaddeus Kosciuszko Day in the United States. Plans are underway to establish October 15th as the official “Kosciuszko Day in Virginia” in order to honor this great

hero of two nations, and commemorate the 200th anniversary of his death (October 15, 1817). Various musical events featuring artists of international acclaim are being planned to mark the occasion.

Please visit: www.chopininbarboursville.org/ for more details about the specific dates and venues of this important and exciting celebration.

Thaddeus Kosciuszko

POLONAISE FALL 2017 // 17

The Chopin Foundation of the United States, Inc., is a national non-profit organization headquartered in Miami, FL, and since 1977 has been dedicated to the support of young, very talented American classical musicians. Thanks to your gifts, many more young talented American artists will receive the encouragement they need and the recognition they deserve.

There are many tax wise ways to contribute to the Chopin Foundation

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We do not provide legal or tax advice. You should always consult your legal,tax or financial advisor to assist with your charitable planning.

For more information please visit our websitewww.chopin.org or call us at (305) 868-0624.

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