Clara Schumann

Biography

Clara Schumann, née Wieck (pronounced Veek), came naturally to music as the daughter of a successful singer, Marianne née Tromlitz, and of a prominent piano teacher, Frederick Wieck. Clara was a prodigy as a pianist, and went on a tour of European cities at the age of eleven. Her first published composition was Quatre Polonaises pour le pianoforte, Op. 1 (1831). In 1840 she married Robert Schumann, and was influential in getting broad recognition for his works. Clara Schumann could be scathing in her appraisal of the other noted composers and musicians of her day. She called one of Richard Wagner’s operas, Tristan and Isolde, “the most repugnant thing I have ever seen or heard in all my life.” There have been rumors that she was romantically involved with Johannes Brahms. A biographer of Clara, Nancy B. Reich, has said, “I think it was not a sexual relationship” but Brahms was “very much in love with her.”