Romantic Chopin – an exhibition based on the composer’s biography, work and correspondence, the exhibition takes visitors through eight themed spaces – from his childhood in Żelazowa Wola, through Warsaw salons and the turmoil of life in Vienna, to the artistic bohemia of Paris, where Chopin created his most important works. Visitors will learn not only about his life and work, but also about the world that surrounded him – George Sand, Ferenc Liszt, Adam Mickiewicz, Eugène Delacroix and Honoré de Balzac.
The exhibition does not leave viewers indifferent. It touches the soul, reveals fears, uncovers secrets and points to the composer’s musical inspirations. Not only those from the world of high art, but also those stemming from folk art. ‘Romantic Chopin’ is not only music, but also a picture of a man thrown into the whirlwind of history, feeling the consequences of the November Uprising and the loss of his homeland. A man who absorbed his surroundings and poured his feelings into immortal works. A man who was loving yet restrained, consumed by his passion for composing and at the same time shining in Parisian salons.
The main part of the exhibition is an immersive space – a 30-minute show based on Chopin’s letters and compositions, in which images and sounds guide the viewer through the emotional and artistic turning points in the composer’s life. Modern technologies also allow for a deeper insight into his world – through an interactive musical sculpture, virtual reality created by the Platige Image studio, and a unique interactive tree with Chopin’s mentors and inspirers, which, using artificial intelligence, enables personal contact with figures from Chopin’s inner circle.
The exhibition ends in a space dedicated to the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, which has been promoting his work around the world for decades. It presents the history of the competition, profiles of the winners and the impact of the event on the global classical music scene.
