The Story of Frédéric Chopin & the Rothschild Family
1810
Frédéric Chopin was born on the 1st of March 1810, in the small village of Żelazowa Wola in the Duchy of Warsaw (now Poland).
His father, Nicolas Chopin, was a French émigré working as a bookkeeper when he met and married Justyna, Frédéric’s Polish mother.
1832
As Frédéric Chopin contemplated leaving Europe for America, he met Prince Valentin Radziwill, who introduced him to Baron James de Rothschild, at a party in Paris in 1832, who encouraged him to stay in Europe.
Later that year, Frédéric Chopin began giving lessons to the wife of James de Rothschild, the Baroness Betty de Rothschild, securing a stable income as a teacher.
1833
His ballade Opus 52 No. 4 composed in 1843, was dedicated to Charlotte de Rothschild, daughter of James and Betty.
Charlotte was one of many family members who Frédéric Chopin taught piano.
1837
Chopin was close enough to the Rothschilds to be making use of their banking facilities.
“Chopin loved the house of Rothschild, and this house loved him.”
Auguste Joseph Franchomme, Chopin's Friend (1808-1884).
1847
Frédéric Chopin started giving some lessons to Hannah Mathilde, daughter of Charlotte de Rothschild.
1848
Frédéric Chopin moved to London, as poverty started hitting mainland Europe.
1849
The Rothschild family continued their interest in and support for Chopin right up until his death.
Among the items sold at the auction of Frédéric Chopin’s effects after his death, on the 17th of October 1849, was “a splendid and costly casket presented by Rothschild”.
2017
The Geneva Frédéric Chopin Association, and its yearly autumn festival started receiving sponsorship from the Banque Pâris Bertrand in 2017. This sponsorship was later continued by Rothschild & Co Bank AG after the acquisition of Banque Pâris Bertrand in 2021.
The Key Compositions of Frederic Chopin