Maria Szymanowska (Dec. 14, 1789 - July 25, 1831) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. Born in Warsaw, the history of her musical studies is largely unknown, but we know that she gave her first public recitals in Paris and Warsaw in 1810. Just five years after her first public recital, her professional career began, with tours all throughout Europe, with a few performances in private for royalty. One of the first virtuosos of the 19th century, her playing was well received. She was also one of the first pianists to play performances from memory, far ahead of Liszt and Clara Schumann. After touring for a while, she relocated to Moscow, and then St. Petersburg, where she was court pianist to the tsarina.

Szymanowska mainly wrote music for piano, thought she also wrote a few songs and chamber pieces. Her work is usually stylistically described as stile brilliante and of Polish Sentimentalism, and many scholars have debated her influence on Chopin.

Fantaisie in F was published in 1819, and is packed with beautiful melodies, drama, whimsy, and flair, right from the beginning with a droning note in the left hand and cascading arpeggios in the right. The work is ten minutes of attractive themes that are embellished upon and developed, and it's almost theatric at times, and operatic at others. There's more than enough technical and musical work for the pianist to chew on! It's brilliant and virtuosic, much like the composer herself, and is a great addition to any pianist's library.

Here's a recording of this work for you to enjoy!

Anna Ciborowska