Nicolas van Poucke - Chopin’s Poetic Genius

Fryderyk Chopin

Fryderyk Chopin, born in Poland, was a virtuoso pianist from the Romantic period and is considered one of the greatest composers in music history. As a twenty-year-old, he was on a tour abroad when the Polish uprising against the Russian occupiers took place. He could no longer return to his native country and left for Paris.

The Parisian high society salons were a meeting point for many artists and he was admired in the aristocratic circles in which Chopin moved. He played like he spoke: softly. Chopin had an aversion to performing in front of an audience and therefore almost never performed. Nevertheless, he was a living legend. Chopin was devoted to Poland with heart and soul, but never returned. According to some, loneliness and homesickness for his native country can always be heard in his music.

Chopin's compositions are technically very demanding. Subtle nuances, expressive depth and sound poetry characterize his style. Nicolas van Poucke has a special affinity for the pianist-composer and composers of times gone by. “A true poetic musician,” said De Volkskrant about Nicolas.

On this winter evening in Amsterdam you can imagine yourself in a cozy Parisian salon.