The verdict is out. Frédéric Chopin never did touch the piano (above) on display in Valldemossa’s cell no. 2, nor did he ever put his head to rest there either, in 1838-39. According to a Palma mercantile court ruling, the piano on display in cell no. 2 was built after 1838 and thus, long after the composer had left the island. The false piano will have to be removed from the Chopin museum cell, as does any false claim of the composer’s occupancy there.

The composer’s brief visit to the Real Cartuja de Valldemossa in company of his consort, Amandine Dudevant Dupin, otherwise known as George Sand, lasted less than fifty days but, left an indelible impression on the fame and fortune of Valldemossa’s town coffers. The erstwhile Carthusian monastery counts amongst Mallorca’s best attended tourist sites, attracting hundred of thousands of visitors every year most of whom want to see where Chopin spent his days and nights, coughing and composing. According to the judge, honour has to be restored in Valldemossa, as have to be order and harmony.

But, wait. The owners of cell no. 2, having lost the court case, lodged an appeal to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of the mercantile chambers. Large sums of money seem to be at stake. The battle will continue. Stay tuned.

The photos were borrowed from the Internet, courtesy of wikipedios.com (top) and mallorcazeitung.es (bottom).

Muchas gracias and

vielen Dank.