Frédéric François Chopin; 1 March 1810 – 17 October 1849) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic era who wrote primarily for solo piano. He has maintained worldwide renown as a leading musician of his era, one whose "poetic genius was based on a professional technique that was without equal in his generation."

A child prodigy, he completed his musical education and composed his earlier works in Warsaw before leaving Poland at the age of 20. All of Chopin's compositions include the piano, most are for solo piano. His piano writing was technically demanding and expanded the limits of the instrument: his own performances were noted for their nuance and sensitivity. His innovations in style, harmony, and musical form, and his association of music with nationalism, were influential throughout and after the late Romantic period.

Chopin's music, his status as one of music's earliest superstars, his (indirect) association with political insurrection, his high-profile love-life, and his early death have made him a leading symbol of the Romantic era. His works remain popular, and he has been the subject of numerous films and biographies of varying historical fidelity.