폴로네즈 Op. 53 (Polonaise no. 6 in A flat major, op. 53, "Heroic")

The Polonaise in A♭ major, Op. 53 (French: Polonaise héroïque, Heroic Polonaise; Polish: Heroiczny) is a solo piano piece composed by Frédéric Chopin in 1842 The piece was published in 1843, and is one of Chopin's most admired compositions and has long been a favorite of the romantic piano repertoire. Pianist Arthur Rubinstein once called it "the composition which is the closest to my heart." The piece requires exceptional piano skills and great virtuosity to be interpreted at a high degree of proficiency. It is also very physically demanding, and according to his student Adolphe Gutmann, Chopin played it more gently than most performers. The polonaise was dedicated to Auguste Léo, a German banker and friend of Chopin. The autograph manuscript of the work is preserved in the Morgan Library & Museum.