The first year in Paris Chopin played at a number of concerts and functions, with ever increasing success.  But in spite of the artistic success, his finances ran low, and he began to consider a trip to America.  Fortunately he met Prince Radziwill on the street at this time, and was persuaded to play at a Rothschild soiree in the evening.  From this moment, it is said, his prospects brightened, and he secured a number of wealthy patrons as pupils.  Whether this be true or not, he came to know many titled personages.  One has only to turn the pages of his music to note how many pieces are dedicated to Princess This and Countess That.  This mode of life was reflected in his music, which became more elegant and aristocratic.

During the season of 1833 and 1834, Chopin continued to make his way as composer, pianist and teacher.  A letter to friends in Poland, says:  “Frederic looks well and strong; he turns the heads of all the French women, and makes the men jealous.  He is now the fashion.”

In the spring of 1834 Chopin had been persuaded by Ferdinand Hiller to accompany him to Aix-la-Chapelle, to attend the Lower Rhine Music Festival.  Before they started Chopin found he had not the money to go, as it had been spent or given to some needy countryman.  Hiller did not like to go alone, and asked if his friend could think of no way out of the dilemma.  At last Chopin took the manuscript of the E flat Valse, Op. 18, went with it to Pleyel the publisher, and returned with five hundred francs.  They could now go and enjoy the trip they had planned.

In July, 1835, Chopin met his parents at Carlsbad, where his father had been sent by the Warsaw physicians to take the cure.  The young musician, now famous, had not seen his parents in nearly five years, and the reunion must have been a happy one.  From here he went to Dresden and Leipsic, meeting Schumann and Mendelssohn.  Schumann admired the young Pole greatly and wrote much about him in his musical magazine.  Mendelssohn considered him a “really perfect virtuoso, whose piano playing was both original and masterly,” but he was not sure whether his compositions were right or wrong.  Chopin also stopped in Heidelberg on the way to Paris, visiting the father of his pupil Adolph Gutman.  He must have been back in Paris about the middle of October, for the papers mention that “M.  Chopin, one of the most eminent pianists of our epoch, has just made a tour of Germany, which has been for him a real ovation.  Everywhere his admirable talent obtained the most flattering reception and excited much enthusiasm.”

The story of Chopin’s attraction for Marie Wodzinski and his reported engagement to her, is soon told.  During his visit in Dresden, after leaving his parents in Carlsbad, he saw much of his old friends, Count Wodzinski and his family.  The daughter, Marie, aged nineteen, was tall and slender, not beautiful but charming, with soft dark hair and soulful eyes.  Chopin spent all his evenings at their home and saw much of Marie.  The last evening the girl gave him a rose, and he composed a valse for her.