© 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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BarcelonaKonstantin Krimmel & Ammiel Bushakevitz
Schumann, Wolf
Konstantin Krimmel; Ammiel Bushakevitz
LondonMoonlight Sonata by Candlelight - Warren Mailley-Smith piano
Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, Schubert, Brahms, Debussy, Gershwin
Warren Mailley-Smith, Piano
BrusselsBrussels Philharmonic / Hayoung Choi / Stéphane Denève

Schumann, Clyne, Brahms
Brussels Philharmonic; Stéphane Denève; Hayoung Choi
BuffaloEsmail, Bruch, Schumann

Esmail, Bruch, Schumann
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; Ankush Kumar Bahl; Paul Huang
SheffieldManchester Camerata and Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus
Schumann, Schumann C., Shaw, Mozart
Manchester Camerata; Gábor Takács-Nagy; Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus; Klara Min
Latest reviewsSee more...
Clarity and delicacy in Mao Fujita’s Carnegie Hall main stage debut
The Japanese pianist brings his own perspectives to less frequently played works, including his trademark Mozart.
Remarkable Schumann, thrilling Tchaikovsky from Hindoyan and the RLPO
Víkingur Ólafsson proves a sensational replacement for Daniel Barenboim with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor.
Marked by Schumann’s shadow: George Li at Zankel Hall
George Li brings forward unexpected connections in masterly interpretations of works by Ravel and Stravinsky.
Wild oscillations in Cardiff unite Beethoven, Schumann and Ligeti
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conductor Ryan Bancroft and violinist Andrew Marwood deliver an evening of rapid gear-shifting, punchy momentum, dancing lyricism and mischief at Hoddinott Hall.
Opposites attract: Yuja Wang and Leonidas Kavakos at the Musikverein
They may seem like an odd pairing, but Wang and Kavakos defy the naysayers yet again, warming into a fascinating recital in Vienna.