Lost Chopin Piano Discovered in Britain

The piano used by the composer Frederic Chopin during his final concert tour was lost after the tour and faded into obscurity. After more than 150 years the famed piano has resurfaced, being found by a musical scholar in a countryside home in Surrey, UK.

The Polish-born pianist and composer, Frederic Chopin had lived in Paris since 1831. In 1848 he moved to London to avoid the French Revolution, taking with him his prize piano. The piano was manufactured by Chopin's close friend, Camille Pleyel.

With the exception of a Broadwood piano Chopin used on a couple of occasions in the United Kingdom, Chopin would use Pleyel pianos exclusively. It was stated that the composer and the piano maker had a verbal agreement. Under the agreement, the French piano maker would supply Chopin with pianos free of charge. In exchange, the composer would endorse the product to his students and fans.

Chopin once remarked that, "Pleyel pianos are the last word in perfection."

After touring Britain and Scotland, Chopin returned to London in November 1848. At that time, the composer played a charity recital at Guildhall to benefit Polish refugees. This was the last public performance of Chopin's life, making the missing piano even more special in terms of it's musical history.

Chopin sold the piano to Lady Trotter, who's daughter Margaret was a pupil of the composer, for £80 before returning to France at the end of the month. The piano used for Chopin's final performance lay forgotten in the Trotter home for years. Margaret Trotter, who never married and had no children of her own, is believed to have left the piano to her grand-niece.

Eventually the piano was auctioned off to a music dealer, who sold the Chopin piano to Alec Cobbe for £2000 in 1988. Neither party realized that the Pleyel piano was the one used by Chopin. Mr. Cobbe purchased the piano to include with his collection of antique musical instruments.