What? When? Where?

16th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition

Please note that Air Club does not sell entrance tickets for this particular event but can arrange hotel and flight connection (subject to availability). This section is for information purposes only.

The International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition is one of the oldest events of its type in the world, and enjoys great prestige and universal renown. In the seventy years of its existence, the competition has evolved and transformed itself, altered and improved its form, and created its own extensive tradition. The initiator of the Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition was Prof. Jerzy Zurawlew (1887-1980), an outstanding Polish pianist, teacher and composer. The first Chopin Competition took place on 23-30 January 1927 in the concert hall of the Warsaw Philharmonic. The next Competitions in 1932 and 1937 were also held there, at a five year interval, in accordance with the rules of the organisers. The 1942 Competition was not held owing to the Second World War, and the Competition could not be continued until several years after the war. The first post-war and the fourth International Fryderyk Chopin Competition took place in 1949, in the "Roma" concert hall, which is still standing in Nowogrodzka Str., the temporary home of the Warsaw Philharmonic and the Opera.

The Competition became the culmination of the Chopin Year, celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the death of this great composer. The next Competition was organised six years later, in 1955. This change to the traditional five year-cycle was caused by the reconstruction of the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, which was promoted soon afterwards to the rank of a national institution. Since 1955 the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition has been held in the National Philharmonic Hall every five years without a break. The pre-war Competitions and those in 1955, 1960 and 1965 took place in the winter, close to 22 February, the date accepted as the birthday of Fryderyk Chopin. The considerable incidence of sickness which occurred during this period, both among the Jury members and the participants, led to a change in the date. From then on the Competition was to be held in October, the month of the composer’s death.

During Competition auditions the young pianists play in alphabetical order, beginning with an initial letter selected at random. As a rule, the age of the participants varies from 18 to 29, although it has differed during individual events owing to changes in the criteria for entry. Taking into account all past Competitions, the youngest participant was 16 and the oldest 32 years of age.

Winning one of the prizes awarded at the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition marks the beginning of a great artistic career and paves the way to the most renowned concert halls. The Polish Chopin Competition heralded fame for such well kwon pianists as Lev Oborin, Stanislaw Szpinalski, Aleksander Uninski, Jakov Zak, Witold Malcuzynski, Jan Ekier, Halina Czerny-Stefanska, Bella Davidovich, Barbara Hesse-Bukowska, Adam Harasiewicz, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Fu Ts`Ong, Lidia Grychtolowna, Maurizio Pollini, Martha Argerich, Garrick Ohlsson, Piotr Paleczny, Eugene Indjic, Krystian Zimerman, Dang Thai Son, Stanislav Bunin, Kevin Kenner, and Alexei Sultanov.