Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Chopin. In Warwaw, the newly refurbished Chopin Museum opens at the Ostrogski Castle. The multimedia displays include one room where visitors can smell Chopin's favorite flower, the violet. You can read more at the museum's website or at Poland's official travel website.
Many thanks to Sophia for the news!
Happy birthday, Fred! I’ll haul out the old sheet music to Valse in B minor and put on some Penhaligon’s Violetta, just for you.
Bet the museum’s cool… I’ve been to his birthplace, which was also pretty neat. Poland in early May – the roses weren’t quite blooming yet, but they were budded out. (Fellow Amerikanskis, it’s a beautiful place and the Poles are so friendly; go if you can.)
I would love to go! Sadly, all my travel $ keeps going to perfume. Ack.
Any family that I had there has all passed away, but I still want to go someday. And I need to look into this Ostrogski Castle… awfully close to my name. 🙂
Wow. Chopin has always been one of my favorite composers and violet one of my favorite florals. Who would have guessed? Happy belated birthday, Frédéric. I should thank you for the everlasting gift of your beautiful and passionate compositions.
Now you have another reason to love violets then 🙂