Frederic Chopin's Romances
The Polish Composer's Love Affairs with George Sand and Others
A brief look at the romantic life of Frederic Chopin, one of the greatest composers for the piano.
Frederic Chopin's wonderful music has always been called 'romantic.' after the style of his time. In his personal life, however, he was not as successful as his music might make one believe. He never married, and was taken by tuberculosis at the age of 39, after a short life filled with disappointments as far as love went.
Konstancja Gladkowska
While a student at the Warsaw Conservatory he became smitten with a young soprano, Konstancja Gladkowska (1810-1889). In a letter to his friend Titus Woyciechowski, dated October 3,1829, he says,"O, perhaps unfortunately, I already have my ideal, whom I have served faithfully, though silently, for half a year, of whom I dream, to thoughts of whom the adagio of my concerto [No.2] belongs, and who this morning inspired the little waltz [Op.70, No.3, in D flat major ] I am sending you...."
Konstancja enjoyed a brief career as a singer and was courted by the dashing cavalry officers from the local garrison. In her later married years she was surprised to learn of his devotion to her, remarking that "he was temperamental, full of fantasies, and unreliable."
Maria Wodzinska
As a child Chopin had enjoyed many happy times with the Wodzinski family, and in 1835 he renewed acquaintance with them. Their daughter Maria was now grown up and Chopin became attracted to her. Maria was a pianist and had performed one of Chopin's Ballades in public. In 1836 the Wodzinskis asked Chopin to visit them at Marienbad, and he heartily accepted. The month of August was spent mostly with Maria, walking and making music together.
Chopin proposed on the 9th of August and Maria accepted, with the proviso (issued by her mother), that he "avoid late nights in the salons of the nobility, and to keep well, everything depends on that." Unfortunately his health once again took a downturn and Maria's mother decided against the marriage. He kept all his letters from Maria and other memorabilia for the rest of his life...tied together with the words "My miseries."
George Sand (Aurore Dupin Dudevant)
Chopin met the novelist George Sand in 1836 at a salon given by Liszt's mistress the Countess Marie d'Agoult, at the Hotel de France. Chopin also attended but he did not take to the 'dark, dignified and cold' Sand. However, on December 13 he invited her to attend a soiree he was giving. He and Liszt played and George Sand smoked...a cigar. Chopin was both fascinated and repelled by her outspoken beliefs and the two later became interested in each other.
Gossip about the relationship, however, made living in Paris more difficult and they decided on a trip to Majorca and its warmer climate. The islanders did not accept the sojourners and this was probably the beginning of the end of the relationship. Chopin's possessiveness and jealously did not help and although they remained together for several years the end came after Sand published (in 1846) "Lucrezia Floriani," a thinly-disguised account of their affair.
Chopin had no heirs to carry on his name but his music will live forever in the hearts of music lovers everywhere.
More information on Chpin's life may be found in Chopin in Bohemia and Chopin at Teplice Spa.
Source
Chopin, by Ates Orga, Omnibus Press, New York, 1976
