Nocturne No. 20 in C-sharp minor, Op. posth.

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) was a Polish pianist and composer. Considered as poetic genius of Romantic period, Chopin mostly composed for piano. He grew up in Warsaw where his father taught French at the Warsaw Lyceum, located in the Saxon Place, and where Chopin family resided during that time. Even though his father was French, young Frédéric was raised in a Polish speaking household. Since his father played flute and violin but his mother played piano, Frédéric was exposed to musical education as well. His first piano tutor was Wojciech Żywny and young boy rapidly progressed into a child prodigy. He composed his first polonaises for piano at age of 7. Later he studied composition with Józef Elsner at the Warsaw Conservatory and kept giving recitals, playing newly invented aelomelodicon – an instrument that combined features of piano and mechanical organ.
Chopin received a wider recognition in 1825, after the recital featuring his Rondo Op.1 given for Russian Tsar Alexander I. The Rondo became the first published work and was praised by foreign press. During his Conservatory years he attended numerous inspiring concerts. Thus, after listening Niccolò Paganini playing violin, Chopin composed variations Souvenir de Paganini, and composed his first Études for piano. Upon graduating from Conservatory and encouraged by success of his performances in Vienna, Chopin decided to leave Warsaw in 1830. Due to various circumstances, he finally settled in Paris next year. Shortly he established himself as one of the most demanded musicians. His compositions were regularly published providing him steady income. Since he disliked performing for large audiences and preferred more intimate salon performances the income from publishing his works was essential. The biggest audience he played in Paris was annual concert at the Salle Pleyel with three hundred  seats. He mostly preferred to play at his own apartment for some friends and invited guests.
In 1836 he met George Sand, a popular novelist at that time who gradually played various roles in his later years. During their on/off relationship she gradually moved from being lover to nurse when Chopin fell ill.  
Raised in classical music tradition, Chopin introduced new genres, suited for performing at salons: ballades, scherzos, preludes, études, mazurkas, polonaises, and nocturnes.