Monday 30 September 2019

Clara Schumann: Prodigy, Muse, Virtuoso

Robert and Clara Schumann
Robert and Clara Schumann
2019 is the 200th anniversary of Clara Schumann's birth and a number of artists are exploring her life and works. The pianist Reiko Fujisawa had been presenting a series of narrated recitals during 2019, culminating in a performance of Clara Schumann: Prodigy, Muse, Virtuoso at the Purcell Room on 5 October 2019 as part of the Southbank Centre's Women in Music series. The programme has been devised by Fujisawa in collaboration with musicologist and author Peter Quantrill. I combines music associated with Clara's musical career with a narration spoken by Crawford Logan which is based on her letters and diary.

The music performed showcased both Clara's own music and that of composers whom she supported, her husband Robert, their friend Johannes Brahms, and Chopin. There is a complete performance of Robert's Faschingschwank aus Wien which was written for her, and also performances of the songs Fruhlingsnacht and Widmung, in Liszt's solo piano arrangements, which were part of Robert's wedding present to Clara, as well as Clara's own Scherzo No.1 in D minor Op.10 and Romance for piano Op.21 No.3

Full details from the Southbank Centre website.

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