Here in Lille, could this Square Frédéric Chopin be named after the famous composer? Frédéric Chopin arrived in Paris on October 5, 1831. The Paris that he dreamt about was the artistic center of Europe. After a long trip from Strasbourg by stagecoach lasting around 70 hours, Chopin reached the city center.
The young composer rented a furnished room on the fourth floor of a tenement house. It was located at 27 Boulevard Poissonnière. In a letter, he wrote about his nice small room beautifully furnished in mahogany. It had a porch on the boulevard. From there, he could see Montmartre.
After months in Paris, Frédéric Chopin moved to a small apartment in March 1832. It was in the quiet backstreets of Cité Bergère. Elegant houses in the Empire style were located there. The move to a furnished apartment was due to his social position in Paris circles. After his first concert in the Pleyel Hall in 1832, Chopin became a sought-after music teacher.
Though Cité Bergère initially suited him, Frédéric Chopin decided to move again. Music lessons and publishing compositions became increasingly burdensome. He decided to give lessons at home. The chosen neighborhood along Chaussée D’Antin was lined with homes of the new aristocracy. Great bankers and luxury fashion houses were located there.
In June 1833, Chopin found a flat at 5 Chaussée d’Antin. The flat was previously inhabited by a German naturalist, Hermann Franck. He hosted musicians and writers. The flat was spacious. Chopin shared it with physician Aleksander Hofman.
Unfortunately, Hofman was a smoker. Chopin couldn’t stand cigarette smoke, so they only lived together for a few months. In April 1834, his childhood friend Jan Matuszyński moved in with him. Chopin gave many lessons at the apartment. In the evening, both friends sometimes went out to visit others or went to the theater.
In December 1835, Duchess Anna Czartoryska organized a charity sale in the adjacent house. Chopin participated, playing with pianist Wojciech Sowiński. In September 1836, Chopin took up residence at 38 Chaussée d’Antin.
The “exceptionally nice and elegant” flat comprised a hallway. Guests were received by a servant who barely spoke French. Despite this, there were several music evenings. Franz Liszt praised the charm of Polish hospitality. Guests included Astolphe de Custine, Franz Liszt, and George Sand.
Upon returning from Majorca on June 1, 1839, Chopin visited George Sand’s estate in Nohant for the first time. He was enchanted by the atmosphere of the park and home. Over the next nine years, Chopin split his time between Nohant and Paris. This was the most prolific period of his life.
Chopin’s return to Paris meant another move. He asked friends for help. The choice was a house at 7 rue Tronchet. Light-colored wallpaper was installed. Julian Fontana also found an apartment for George Sand. Not far from Chopin’s flat, two charming pavilions stood available at 16 Place Pigalle. Chopin was happy to spend afternoons and evenings at her home.
In August 1842, Chopin and George Sand rented two apartments next to Square d’Orléans. The plaque commemorates residents including Pierre Joseph Zimmerman, Pauline Viardot, and Alexandre Dumas. Chopin’s relatively small flat was a few steps from George Sand’s apartment. Music evenings took place at George Sand’s.
In mid-May 1849, Chopin moved to a spacious apartment at 74 rue de Cahillot. Friends visited him, including Eugène Delacroix. The last place where the composer stayed was an apartment in the house at 12 Vendôme Square. Friends chose the apartment and handled the move.
A commemorative mass for Fryderyk Chopin was held at the La Madeleine Church in Paris on October 30th. The only place in Paris where keepsakes of Fryderyk Chopin were kept is the Chopin Salon at the Polish Library in Paris.
The composer’s grave is located in the Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris. There is a monument by Jacques Froment Meurice in Monceau Park. The Societé Chopin organizes Chopin concerts every year. So here in Lille, we honor his legacy at Square Frédéric Chopin.