Hear the haunting history of Chopin Nocturne in C sharp minor, played live on the radio during the 1939 siege of Warsaw.
This video explores the remarkable story of a pianist who performed Chopin Nocturne in C sharp minor while bombs fell on the city. When the broadcast was abruptly cut off during the 1939 bombardment, it became a symbol of resistance and cultural endurance. We examine how this piece of music connected a nation through its darkest hour.
Learn about the personal history behind the performance and the moment the pianist returned years later to play the same piece once Polish radio resumed. This account is for anyone interested in the intersection of classical piano history and wartime events. Understanding the context of this broadcast provides a new perspective on why this specific Chopin Nocturne remains so significant to Polish history today.
Listen to a short clip of this magnificent and moving piece here.
10 Jan 2024 | Arthur Rubinstein plays Chopin's Polonaise op. 53 in A-flat major at the infamous Moscow recital on 1. October 1964
Surely this is the greatest performance of this piece on film; it is energetic, passionate and bombastic like no other with a deep nationalistic undertone and incredible sensitivity.
