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With the disappearance of Maria from the life of Frederic Chopin, his new interest was another Polish countess in exile, this time Delfina Potocka (po-TOS-ka). Fred was a supporter of monarchs and aristocrats, and he was attracted to the nobility. Delfina was no teenager, and there is some question as to whether she and Fred ever tumbled into bed. She was in and out of his life to the very end. Her function appears to have been more muse than lover, but no one is sure.

Then in the waning days of 1836, the 26 year old Chopin met Amandine-Aurore-Lucille Dudevant, maiden name Dupin, a French noblewoman best known as George Sand, whose rustic novels were bestsellers in France. Think of her as a cross between Danielle Steel and Thomas Hardy. She was six years older than Fred.

George had married at 18, left her husband, and had become the mistress of some of the most famous literary talents in France. She got around. Said Liszt famously, “She’s unable to have orgasms.” He would have known.

At first, Fred disliked her populist pretensions, and George didn’t like his aristocratic pretensions. But she developed the hots for him. It took a while, but they tumbled into bed.

In 1837, from this early period when Fred and George were wary of each other, Chopin produced one of his best known and most beloved works. It’s an absolute joy to play!

Chopin: Impromptu #1 in A-flat, Op. 29