Icons of Europe This fleur-de-lys represents the aims of Icons of Europe asbl. The fleur-de-lys figure has been used as an ornament or emblem by almost all civilisations of the old and new worlds.

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Portrait of Fryderyk Chopin by Teofil Kwiatkowski; from Frederick Niecks' biography of Chopin.Cultural heritage of Poland and Europe
 Polska kultura / Dziedzictwo kulturowe Polska i Europa

Since its foundation in 2001, the association Icons of Europe
has continuously taken the initiative to celebrate - at national,
European and global levels - Chopin's life and music
as well as the cultural heritage of Poland and Europe.

"Many countries could learn from Poland's historical experience in using
language and culture to maintain a strong national identity in turbulent times."
From our letter published in the International Herald Tribune (21 July 2006)
Year

Initiatives by Icons of Europe in tribute to Chopin, Poland, Europe
2002
2002		 - Chamber music concert at Brussels / Central European composers*
- Online selection of Icons of Poland:  art, music, literature, science

Celebrating the EU enlargement: chamber music concert organized by Icons of Europe on 22 November 2002 at Brussels. Music by Bartók, Chopin, Dvorák, Holmboe, Kodály, Paderewski.
Cover page of the biography "CHOPIN and The Swedish Nightingale" (Icons of Europe, 2003) by Cecilia and Jens Jorgensen.

Szczerbiec, the bejewelled sword used since 1320 in the coronation ceremony of Polish kings. Photo by Janusz Podlecki for the Royal Wawel Castle, Krakow, Poland.  Oil painting of Jenny Lind (1820-1887).
Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982) was born in Lódz, Poland. Icons of Europe has proposed to the City of Lodz that Rubinstein should be central to its bid for European Capital of Culture 2016.  The City of Lodz, Poland.
Fryderyk Chopin Instituite, Warsaw, Poland.  Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543). Born in Torun, Poland, Copernicus studied mathematics, philosophy and astronomy in Krakow, liberal arts in Bologna, medicine in Padua, and law at the University of Ferrara. He discovered that the sun is the centre of our solar system ("De revolutionibus orbium coelestium"). "Copernicus stopped the sun and moved the earth".

More artworks
2003
2003
2003
2003		 - Piano recital "Chopin: Three Countries" at Lasne, Belgium
- Piano recitals with three Chinese virtuosi:  Bach, Beethoven, Chopin
- Publication of the biography "Chopin and The Swedish Nightingale"
- Brussels premiere of the musical drama "Chopin and The Nightingale"
2004
2004
2004
2004
2004		 - As requested, European Commission stops misuse of Chopin's name
- Article in "Chopin in the World" on the new Chopin biography
- NIFC roundtable / press conferences on new Chopin / Lind research
- Warsaw premiere of the musical drama "Chopin and The Nightingale"
- Letter published in the International Herald Tribune / ref. Chopin
2005
2005
2005
2005
2005
2005
2005		 - Detailed Chopin / Jenny Lind research report shared with NIFC, others
- Reports to NIFC on Hôtel Lambert, Paris and on 74 Rue de Chaillot
- Roundtable with Chopin scholars of Edinburgh and St Andrews Univs.
- Essay in "Chopin in the World" on Polish art treasures in Canada
- Toronto premiere "Chopin and The Nightingale" for World TB Day 2005
- Concert in Toronto "Chopin masterpieces and Nightingale songs"
- Recommendation for NIFC to reserve the domain name chopin2010.pl
2006
2006
2006
2006		 - Submission of Niecks essay for competition of "Chopin in the World"
- Proposal on Chopin 2010 honorary committee requested by NIFC
- Proposal for joint research on patronage of Zelazowa Wola park, 1894
- Letter published in International Herald Tribune / ref. Poland's culture
2007
2007
2007		 - Proposal to reinforce Lodz' bid for European Capital of Culture 2016
- Research on Oscar Wilde's reminiscence of Chopin's "sins / tragedy"
- Online information on Chopin works, Chopin 2010, Poland's culture ...
2008
2008
2008		 - New York premiere of the musical drama "Chopin and The Nightingale"
- Celebration of the 150-year anniversary of soprano Marcella Sembrich
- National museums of Poland invited to comment on Chopin artworks

According to Icons of Europe, Waclaw Szymanowski's sculpture, at Lazienki Park, Warsaw, Poland, portrays Chopin siiting under an uprooted tree as Orpheus does in Ovid poem.
Teofil Kwiatkowski (1809-1891): "Le rêve de Chopin" / "Polonaise de Chopin, un bal à l’Hôtel Lambert", watercolour and gouache on paper marouflé on canvas (1849-1860), which Icons of Europe has researched.

2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
2009
- Defence of Mendelssohn's good name with implications for Chopin
- Submission of four research abstracts to the Chopin 2010 Congress
- Concept and material for a BBC TV documentary on Chopin/Jenny Lind
- Chopin presentation to the manager of Hôtel Prince de Galles, Paris
- Three books on Chopin and Jenny Lind posted at Amazon.co.uk
- Preparation of a new book on Chopin / Jenny Lind (research, in French)
- Online summaries of research findings on Chopin 1848-1849 and legacy

2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2011
2012
- Two piano recitals by Daniel Blumenthal at Lasne for Chopin's 200 years
- Discovery of exact location of Chopin's apartment at 74, Rue de Chaillot
- Presentation at Hotel Prince de Galles to 17 Polish journalists (24 Feb.)
- Commemorative Chopin event / 74 Rue de Chaillot (PdG, Paris, 6 Oct.)
- Avant-premiere of the new Chopin / Jenny Lind book in Paris (6 Oct.)
- Contribution to the production of BBC TV documentary on Chopin
- The Chopin / Jenny Lind story with music for a SWEA auidience at Nice
- Actively tweeting at @IconsEurope and inviting related tweets
- Jorgensen won the @PolishEmbassyUS 'doyouknowpolska' contest.

The flag of the European Union and the Council of Europe. Icons of Europe was inaugurated under the auspices of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Walter Schwimmer."National icons and household names such as Da Vinci, Chopin and Shakespeare
provide strong bonds between many European countries.  This cultural diversity
represents a huge asset that all adds up to an essential part of Europe's identity
and values." - Our letter published in the International Herald Tribune (2004).

* In addition to the many Chopin / Poland initiatives, Icons of Europe organized, in Lasne,
a piano recital in September 2002 with music by Beethoven, Debussy and Liszt, and a
recital for piano and violoncello in June 2004 with music by Brahms, Dvorák and Martinu.

 NIFC =
Fryderyk Chopin National Institute,
Warsaw

 

Top

Explore Poland - ale jazda!²  J.A. Jorgensen's winning slogan (squared) in @PolishEmbassyUS contest
 Artworks in tribute to Chopin / Ideas interpretations influence / Idee interpretacje oddziaływania
Icons of Europe's research offers an explanation to the provenance and meaning of well-known compositions
and Chopin artworks (some Orphic), which surprisingly long have been shrouded in mystery or myths.
Despite Paris being the source of these artworks, Jenny Lind emphasized Chopin's Polish roots in many ways.
 

Teofil Kwiatkowski (1809-1891): "Le rêve de Chopin" / "Polonaise de Chopin, un bal à l’Hôtel Lambert", watercolour and gouache on paper marouflé on canvas (1849-1860), which Icons of Europe has researched. “La Mort de Chopin”; detail of lithograph based on an 1885 oil painting by Félix Barrias. Icons of Europe considers that the woman in white is Jenny Lind. Sculpture of Chopin by Jacques Froment-Meurice at Parc Monceau, Paris.

According to Icons of Europe, Waclaw Szymanowski's sculpture, at Lazienki Park, Warsaw, Poland, portrays Chopin siiting under an uprooted tree as Orpheus does in Ovid poem.
Delacroix Auguste Clésinger Kwiatkowski Ari Scheffer Teofil Kwiatkowski Thomas Couture Félix Barrias Froment-Meurice W. Szymanowski

Tributes to Chopin by sculptors, painters, composers, poets, biographers and museums have surpassed all his peers