Did Chopin ever go to see plays?

[russda_man]

I know he seen a Shakespeare play, but just wondering if he ever watched any modern plays of the time, or anything else.

[goldentone]

George Sand, his lover, was a novelist and playwright, so that seems quite likely.

[csharp_minor]

If you want to know more about things like that I suggest you hear it from Chopin himself. I recently bought Frederic Chopin: Chopin's Letters by Henryk Opienski, Dover Publications. Its a book with about 300 of his letters and as far as I can see from reading his accounts of what he got up to, he was quite an avid theatre and opera goer.

 

[michel dvorsky]

Chopin also liked the occasional comedy, apparently:

"`This evening instead of getting all dressed up […] I went with Alkan to the Vaudeville to see Arnal […] As usual, Arnal is very funny. […]He tells the audience how he was desperate to pee in a train but couldn't get to a toilet before they stopped at Orléans. There wasn't a single vulgar word in what he said, but everyone understood and split their sides laughing'."

source:
https://www.smerus.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/alkan.htm

[russda_man]

If you want to know more about things like that I suggest you hear it from Chopin himself. I recently bought Frederic Chopin: Chopin's Letters by Henryk Opienski, Dover Publications. Its a book with about 300 of his letters and as far as I can see from reading his accounts of what he got up to, he was quite an avid theatre and opera goer.

 

Really? I will have to get that book. Thank you!

[csharp_minor]

No problem, Yeah it’s very good and addictive reading as well as giving you a really good insight into the 1800s. I have gone through about 60 of his letters now, I feel a bit guilty reading through his thoughts and life, ( his letters to his friend Tytus are like love letters! ) . The letters are in chronological order, the earliest one was written when he was 6.  If you love Chopin you will love this book .