On May 17th, 1984, Alan Kogosowski walked out on the stage the 600 year-old Guildhall in the City of London and (re)created history.

On Nov. 23rd, 1848, Frederic Chopin had walked out on the same stage and played in public for the very last time. This came at the end of a six-month visit to England and Scotland which he had hoped would rejuvenate his failing health, but it was not to be. For this final farewell appearance, the Illustrated London News reported that “M. Chopin, the celebrated pianiste, performed some of his beautiful compositions with much applause. The vast hall, brilliantly lighted, presented a coup d’oeil of singular beauty. The dancing commenced soon after 9 o'clock, and was continued with unabated vigour till an advanced hour in the morning. Refreshments were furnished on a very elegant scale."

On this occasion, Chopin was not strong enough to play more than a handful of pieces, however Kogosowski performed a wide range of the great Polish composer’s music, from the intimate to the heroic, to a similarly gala audience. Chopin had performed for the ‘Annual Grand Dress and Fancy Ball and Concert in aid of the funds of the Friends of Poland’, while Kogosowski performed in aid of the Sue Ryder Foundation.