© Photo by Michael Sondermann Presseamt Stadt Bonn
Robert Schumann was undoubtedly one of the greatest German composers of the Romantic era. A hand injury, sustained in a misguided attempt to strengthen the fingers on his right hand by the use of a mechanical device, ended his career as a concert pianist. After this time, Schumann focused on composition instead.
Fact file
| Year of birth | 1810 |
| Year of death | 1856 |
| Nationality | Germany |
| Period | Romantic |
Schumann Birthday Playlist
Sunday 8th June is Schumann’s birthday, so here's a selected playlist to enjoy.
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RigaDaniel Lozakovich violin & Mikhail Pletnev piano
Schubert, Schumann, Franck
Mikhail Pletnev; Daniel Lozakovich
JūrmalaBryn Terfel bass-baritone & Annabel Thwaite piano
Schubert, Keel, Traditional, Schumann, Lewis, Williams
Sir Bryn Terfel; Annabel Thwaite
LuganoChailly and the Filarmonica della Scala: Nordic landscapes and romantic inspiration
Sibelius, Schumann
Filarmonica della Scala; Riccardo Chailly; Emmanuel Tjeknavorian
LondonECHO Rising Stars: Ben Goldscheider
Beethoven, Simpson, Schumann, Vignery
Ben Goldscheider; Tom Poster
ZürichPiano Quintet
Wolf-Ferrari, Schumann
Tatjana Pak; Jonathan Allen; Natalia Mosca; Andreas Plattner
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A battle of the concertos at the Verbier Festival
Age sometimes brings compensations: Mischa Maisky's total commitment to the Schumann concerto left Daniel Lozakovich out in the cold with Brahms. Meanwhile Klaus Mäkelä with the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra reins back Romantic feeling in Schumann's Second Symphony.
Glorious chamber music from Martha Argerich and friends in Hamburg
From Beethoven's “Ghost” Piano Trio to Schumann’s song cycle, Frauenliebe und -leben, an eclectic programme at the Martha Argerich Festival.
A Rhenish to remember Lio Kuokman and the Hong Kong Philharmonic
Pianist Colleen Lee displays both dexterity and delicacy in Mozart's Coronation concerto, while HK Phil strut their romantic stuff in Schumann's Rhenish Symphony.
Richard Goode emphasises structure and colour in Caramoor recital
In Goode’s performance, Beethoven’s sonata appeared equidistant from the music of Bach and Schumann that preceded and followed it in the programme.
An excellent Rhenish from the Rhineland
Schumann's Third returns to its spiritual home as François-Xavier Roth conducts the Gürzenich Orchestra in a fine Rhenish.