Robert Schumann

Romanticism

He is considered the very embodiment of the Romantic artist: musician and poet in one.

💡 Did you know? Schumann was the epitome of the Romantic artist: torn between exuberant fantasy and deep melancholy.

Zwickau

His father was a bookseller and publisher: hence Schumann's lifelong love of literature.

💡 Did you know? Schumann actually wanted to be a piano virtuoso: until he ruined his hand with a home-made finger-training device and turned to composing.

a hand injury

Possibly caused by over-practising with a home-made finger-stretching device.

💡 Did you know? Thus the failed virtuoso became one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era.

Neue Zeitschrift für Musik

As a critic he hailed Chopin ('Hats off, gentlemen: a genius!') and discovered the young Brahms.

💡 Did you know? In his music journal Schumann wrote under invented names like „Florestan“ and „Eusebius“: the two souls of his own nature.

Clara Wieck

The marriage had to be won in court against her father, Friedrich Wieck.

💡 Did you know? To be allowed to marry Clara, the two had to defeat her own father (Clara's piano teacher) in court; he was strictly against the union.

Kinderszenen

Thirteen poetic miniatures about childhood: 'Träumerei' is still one of the world's most played encores.

💡 Did you know? The tender „Träumerei“ from the „Scenes from Childhood“ is one of the most famous piano pieces of all.

year of song

In the year of his wedding to Clara he wrote the cycles 'Dichterliebe' and 'Frauenliebe und -leben', among others.

💡 Did you know? In the joy of finally being allowed to marry Clara, Schumann composed almost 140 songs in a single „year of song“ in 1840.

Florestan and Eusebius

Fiery Florestan and dreamy Eusebius embody the two sides of his artistic nature.

💡 Did you know? Both appear by name in his piano cycle 'Carnaval'.

the Rhenish

Written in 1850 after his move to Düsseldorf; his First Symphony is known as the 'Spring Symphony'.

💡 Did you know? The „Rhenish“ Symphony captures impressions of the Rhineland: one movement even depicts a solemn ceremony in Cologne Cathedral.

A minor

Premiered in 1845 with Clara as soloist: still one of the best-loved Romantic piano concertos.

💡 Did you know? Schumann wrote his Piano Concerto in A minor for his wife Clara, one of the greatest pianists of her time.

Johannes Brahms

The 20-year-old Brahms became a close family friend and stood by Clara for the rest of her life.

💡 Did you know? In the article „New Paths“, Schumann publicly hailed the unknown 20-year-old Brahms as a coming genius: his last great act as a critic.

in an asylum (Endenich)

After throwing himself into the Rhine in 1854 he asked to be admitted; he died there in 1856. Clara outlived him by 40 years.

💡 Did you know? After a suicide attempt (he threw himself into the Rhine) Schumann spent his last years in an asylum, where he died in 1856.

Robert Schumann

Robert Schumann was a German Romantic composer whose piano works, songs and symphonies embody inwardness and imagination.

💡 Did you know? He discovered the young Brahms and married the famous pianist Clara: whose father fought them in court.