Frédéric François Chopin (1 March 1810 – 17 October 1849) was a Polish composer and pianist of the Romantic period.
In Spring 1848, the composer, who was already in decline due to Tuberculosis, left Paris for a tour of Britain.
On 4th October, he gave a concert in Edinburgh at the Hopetoun Rooms (now demolished) on Queen Street.
He stayed at 10 Warriston Crescent in Edinburgh with the Polish émigré physician Adam Łyszczyński.
Chopin performed his last public concert at London’s Guildhall on 16 November 1848, for the benefit of Polish refugees.
He left London on 23 November 1849, and died in Paris on 17 October 1850, aged 39.
FRYDERYK CHOPIN
1810-1849 Polish Composer
Stayed here on the occasion of his concert in Edinburgh on the 4th of October 1848.
To commemorate the hundredth anniversary of this event this plaque was placed by the Polish community and their Scottish friends in 1948.
Please note: 10 Warriston Crescent is NOT open to the public.
Two minutes walk from here is the birthplace of Robert Louis Stevenson.
Sources and Further Reading
The Chopin Society UK has an page on Chopin’s visit to Britain.
Chopin page on Classic FM.
Chopin’s rough guide to Britain: ‘crafty’ locals and ‘dreadful’ weather – from Classic FM.
The Polish Scottish Heritage website has a page on Chopin’s visit to Scotland.
