A Calendar of Events letting you know what, where and when is happening throughout the Chopin Year:
- Events: concerts, exhibitions, shows and many others
- Reports
- Interviews
- Kordegarda CHOPIN 2010
Fifteen Chopin benches were placed in Warsaw on the route from the Gniński-Ostrogski Palace on the Krasińskich Square to the Chopin Statue in the Royal Baths Park. Majority of them are placed on the Krakowskie Przedmieście or in its vicinity, where young Chopin used to spend most time. He lived here, studied, delivered concerts, composed music and met friends.
The benches are made of black polished granite called "Supreme Black", which is known for its elegance. The stone bears short inscriptions related to the composer and an easily legible, well ordered map presenting all locations on the Chopin route. Foreign tourists have access to the information in the English language version.
The highlight of the Chopin benches is the possibility of listening to the Chopin’s music. Each bench has a button initiating thirty or forty seconds long fragments of the most famous compositions by Fryderyk Chopin. Moreover, the benches have separate for every place QR Code, that is small pictures which, after having been photographed with the use of the mobile phone, enable downloading from the Town Hall’s website the Chopin application with the audio mp3 guide and Chopin’s music.
The Chopin benches were placed on the indicated locations already in 2009. They were designed by the Towarzystwo Projektowe, author of the municipal furniture on Krakowskie Przedmieście Street and the City Information System.
Locations of the benches:
- Krasińskich Square – The National Theatre (Teatr Narodowy) was placed here. In its building, in 1830, Fryderyk Chopin presented his Concerto in F minor. Moreover, in October 1830, in the mentioned building, the last farewell concert of the artist took place before his departure from the country.
- Miodowa Street – The Miodowa Street was the centre of the capital's social life. Artists and young people gathered in the local cafés: "Pod Kopciuszkiem", "Dziurka" and "Honoratka". Fryderyk Chopin visited them almost every day.
- Kozia Street – In Chopin's times, this narrow street was an important communication route. The café "U Brzezińskiej" was Chopin's favourite place.
- Music Conservatory – The Music Conservatory, where Chopin studied composition, was located in the place of the present day square over the Trasa WZ tunnel.
- Wessel Palace – On November 2, 1830, this was the starting point of Fryderyk Chopin's voyage in the stagecoach to fame: to Vienna and further to Paris.
- Radziwiłł Palace – On February 24, 1818, 8-years old Fryderyk delivered his first public performance there.
- Saxon Palace – In 1810, Chopin's family settled there as Fryderyk's father was employed in the famous Warsaw Lyceum, which was located in the palace's rooms.
- Saxon Garden – Place where young Chopin spend time when his family lived in the Saxon Palace (former seat of the Warsaw Lyceum).
- The Visitationists Church – In Chopin's times, Sunday mass took place here for students of the Warsaw Lyceum, at which 15-years old Fryderyk, distinguished with the function of the "Lyceum Organist" performed on the organ.
- Kazimierzowski Palace – In 1817, the Warsaw Lyceum was located here together with the newly founded Royal University of Warsaw. Here, in the building on the right (Prorector's Building) Chopin family lived.
- Czapski Palace – The Chopin family settled here in 1827, Fryderyk had his own room with piano there. Today, in the place of former Chopin family apartment, on the second floor, Chopin Salon is located - a museum of Chopin souvenirs.
- The Holy Cross Church – Chopin's heart is placed there.
- Zamoyski Palace – Chopin's sister lived there. She kept souvenirs of her brother. In 1863, from the windows of this building an attempt at the Tsar's Governor was made. As a revenge, the habitants of the building were expelled and their possessions were destroyed. The Chopin's piano was among things thrown out of the windows and later burned.
- Gniński–Ostrogski Palace – The seat of the Fryderyk Chopin Museum, next to which the Chopin Centre is located.
- Chopin Statue in the Royal Baths Park – The most famous in the world statue of the composer, placed in the Royal Baths Park, facing the Gate in the Ujazdowskie Alley, next to the Belweder Palace.
Music for given locations:
- Krasińskich Square – Mazurka in A minor Op. 17 No. 4; 39"
- Miodowa Street – Mazurka in A minor Op. 68; 34"
- Kozia Street – Song "Merrymaking"; 29"
- Music Conservatory – Waltz in E-flat major Op. 18; 39"
- Wessel Palace – Grande Polonaise in E-flat major Op. 22; 35"
- Radziwiłł Palace – Rondo in C minor Op.1; 32"
- Saxon Palace – Mazurka in B-flat major Op. 7 No. 1; 36"
- Saxon Garden – Nocturne in B major Op. 9 No. 3; 47"
- The Visitationists Church – Largo in E-flat major (op. posth.); 46"
- Kazimierzowski Palace – Waltz in E minor (op. posth.); 45"
- Czapski Palace – Waltz in D-flat major Op. 64 No. 1; 42"
- The Holy Cross Church – Funeral March from Sonata in B-flat minor Op.35; 45"
- Zamoyski Palace – Etude in C minor Op. 10 No. 12; 42"
- Gniński – Ostrogski Palace – Ballade in F minor Op. 52; 42"
- Fryderyk Chopin Statue in the Royal Baths Park – Polonaise in A major Op. 40 No. 1; 39"