Contents
Clara Schumann
Sustaining a major concert career while composing and championing Romantic piano music.
Piano Concerto in A minor · Piano Trio in G minor
- Born
- 13 September 1819
- Birthplace
- Leipzig, Germany
- Died
- 20 May 1896
More people
Clara Schumann
Clara Schumann was a German pianist, composer and teacher whose performing career lasted more than six decades. Her concerts helped establish lasting works by Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms.
Early life
A musician’s household
Both parents were pianists and teachers; her father Friedrich Wieck closely directed her training.
Child performer
Made her official Leipzig Gewandhaus debut in 1828, aged nine, and toured while still a child.
Career
- 1830s
European virtuoso
Won recognition through tours and performances of demanding repertoire and her own compositions.
- 1856 onward
Independent career
Continued supporting her family through concerts and teaching after Robert Schumann’s death.
- 1878
Frankfurt teacher
Joined Dr Hoch’s Conservatory and trained an international group of pianists.
Selected work
Piano Concerto in A minor
Premiered her own concerto as a teenager with Felix Mendelssohn conducting.
Piano Trio in G minor
A substantial chamber work for piano, violin and cello.
Three Romances for Violin and Piano
Lyrical chamber pieces dedicated to Joseph Joachim.
Beyond work
Family responsibilities
Raised eight children while maintaining demanding professional commitments.
Editing a legacy
Helped prepare and promote editions of Robert Schumann’s music after his death.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Franz Hanfstaengl. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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