Robert Schumann (1810-1856) was a central figure of the Romantic era of classical music, renowned for his expressive piano compositions, innovative lieder (German art songs), and orchestral works. He began his musical education under the tutelage of the famous teacher Friedrich Wieck, whose daughter Clara Wieck would later become Schumann's wife and a significant pianist of the period. Initially studying law, Schumann soon abandoned it for a career in music, though a hand injury led him to focus on composing rather than pursuing a virtuoso pianist's career.

Schumann's oeuvre shows a remarkable blend of lyrical intimacy and bold structural innovation. His early works were almost exclusively for piano, including such pieces as "Carnaval" and "Kinderszenen." However, he later expanded into other forms, writing four symphonies, an opera, and various chamber works, including the celebrated Piano Quartet and Piano Quintet. His songs, particularly the song cycle "Dichterliebe," are considered some of the most beautiful and complex in the lieder tradition. Schumann's later works, including the "Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3," reflect his ongoing development as a composer, even as he battled mental illness, which eventually led to his tragic death in an asylum. His music continues to be celebrated for its emotional depth, innovative harmonies, and his profound impact on the Romantic movement in music.

Genres

Early Romantic Era

German Romanticism

Related Artists

Frédéric Chopin

Franz Schubert

Johannes Brahms

Felix Mendelssohn

Richard Wagner

Clara Schumann

Ludwig van Beethoven

Claude Debussy

Edvard Grieg

Franz Liszt

Antonín Dvořák

Gustav Mahler

Latest Release

Éclats. Piano Music from the Golden Age (Extended Edition)

Percy Grainger•

Bedřich Smetana•

Felix Mendelssohn•

Franz Liszt•

Robert Schumann•

Johann Sebastian Bach

Album - 47 Tracks - Released September 17, 2024