In Search of Chopin

Back in 1992, I spent 3 days in Warsaw, not really thinking much about Poland or Chopin, but intent on wrangling a visa to get into Russia. It wasn’t easy at the time. Warsaw was the back door. Those 3 days turned out to be life-changing for me. Yes, Chopin just happened to be my “desert island” composer, but my focus was a quick transit to Moscow to explore joint-venture opportunities in a newly open, former Soviet Union. Don’t ask. In any event, I was completely caught off guard – Warsaw charmed me.

Upon return and reflection, Warsaw, the “phoenix city”, was the highlight of that adventure, which had included Germany, Belarus, and Russia. I marveled at a city still finding its footing, newly independent from Soviet occupation. The city had a raw and electric energy. Entrepreneurs were gingerly exploring new-found freedoms and enterprise. The streets were colorful and alive, bustling with every kind of vendor. A young college student shuttled me around for a day, choking up at one point as he recounted pulling cobblestones up from the street to hurl at Soviet tanks, just a couple of years earlier. Solidarity. We even ran into Lech Wałęsa’s entourage at one historic site.

Wednesday, I return after 18 years…in search of Chopin on his 200th birthday. Along with my station’s overnight announcer, Andrea Murray, we lead a group of 32 All Classical travelers on a musical adventure to Warsaw and Krakow, later Prague, Leipzig and Berlin.

Watch this space for updates!

Does your station have a “donor cultivation travel program?” No? Consider it. This is All Classical’s 14th such trip and the program not only generates a small stream of revenue,  now and in terms of legacy gifts, but also rich content elements, powerful memories and cultural connections. These folks out of Seattle can help.

Good stuff.

Onward!