Chopin’s grave in Paris is still thronged with pilgrims, and his music sells out concert halls globally , but who exactly was the man behind the music ?

The Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin is regarded as one of the great Romantic composers of the first half of the nineteenth century. This is an exquisitely shot film by Phil Grabsky, that is mostly a chronological biography but also a musical master class in performing Chopin’s works, with various top conductors and performers including-Leif Ove Andsnes, Lars Vogt, Daniel Barenboim, Ronald Brautigam and Kevin Kenner-  analysing the music from a performer’s perspective.

The film is narrated by renowned stage and screen star Juliet Stevenson (‘Truly Madly Deeply ‘), and includes David Dawson ( ‘Luther’ ) bringing to life some of Chopin’s letters .This is the latest in a series of musical documentaries directed by Grabsky following on from ‘In Search Of Beethoven ‘,’ In Search Of Mozart’, and ‘In Search Of Haydn’.

IN SEARCH OF CHOPIN  took four years to film. Earlier movies have concentrated on Chopin’s childhood and/or love life (eg the 1945 , ‘A Song To Remember’, and Hugh Grant’s rendition of Chopin in ‘Impromptu’).

The pianists are filmed performing, interrupting themselves to dissect, explain and wonder at the composer’s achievements and examine his creative influences.

Many of the interviews are conducted in historically relevant places, (eg Nohant ) and the music is played on historically relevant pianos at times, –particularly the Pleyel et Cie pianos that Chopin made famous in Paris.

When he settled in Paris in 1831, after his self-imposed political exile from Poland, Chopin was very careful to present himself as a rather elegant, conservative gentleman, wearing expensive clothes, who taught children of the rich and moved in the highest society circles. He rarely performed in public, despite his major celebrity. He was quiet, moody, introspective and apparently capable of a certain wit that did not come across so much in his music.

This was, however, all a facade, Underneath the carefully polished exterior burnt a restless spirit and a passionate heart, made more intense by a lifetime of illness that would kill him at the age of 39. Chopin’s loneliness, depression and TB – the film mentions all three but does not go into them in any great depth.

Chopin had a decade long scandalous relationship with the most notorious woman of the era in France, the writer George Sand. (Her real name was Amantine-Lucille- Aurore Dupin- she wore men’s clothes, a top hat, was a political radical and smoked cigars.

Biographer and historian Jeremy Siepmann described them as the  ‘oddest of odd couples ‘,  but their relationship lasted longer than any of Chopin’s other relationships. Grabsky says that this was Chopin’s most productive period, particularly the summers at her family house, Nohant, in Berry .

Other intriguing facts emerge from the film, including demonstrations of Chopin’s shrewd business skills, and how the composer made his money through teaching and selling the rights to his music. His dislike of the audience led him to describe public airings of his work as ‘monstrous’, -he only gave thirty concerts during his life. His anxiety in regards to performing live also contributed  to this statistic.

There are some exquisitely beautiful landscape shots included as well as paintings and photos of Chopin. George Sand, Liszt. There is a rich sense of detail and thrilling orchestral music throughout.

Perfectly crafted for the Sunday afternoon TV arts arena ,whilst this is a fascinating film it somehow leaves one perhaps a little  unsatisfied .
IN SEARCH OF CHOPIN is currently screening at selected cinemas
Running time –allow 1 hour 50 minutes without interval,