He was born in Leipzig, Germany, on September 13, 1819 and died in Frankfurt am Main on May 20, 1896.
She was one of the most outstanding interpreters of the romantic period. She studied piano with her father, who was a renowned teacher. Also under the supervision of her father, her education included religion, languages, violin, theory, harmony, counterpoint orchestration, fugue and composition with the best teachers in Leipzig, Dresden and Berlin. She was a child prodigy. She played at the age of nine at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig. At age 11 she made her solo debut. At 12 she played in Paris and at 18 she already captivated the Vienna public. Characters such as Goethe, Paganini, Louis Spohr and young musicians such as Chopin, Liszt and Mendelssohn expressed their great admiration for the pianist.
Despite strong opposition from her father, in 1840 – one day before her 21st birthday – she married Robert Schumann when he was almost unknown and she a celebrity. The couple lived in Leipzig, Dresden and Düsseldorf and had eight children. Despite her complicated daily life, Clara did not abandon her career. It was not easy at all to deal with the mental illness of her husband, who worsened over the years and died, admitted to an asylum in 1856.
Clara had a brilliant career for more than 60 years. As a pianist she was, without a doubt, one of the greatest of her time, alongside Liszt, Thalberg and Rubinstein. Already as a child, in a time of virtuosos, she caught her attention, not only for her masterful technique, but also for her deep sensitivity, as well as for her respect for the composer’s instructions. The repertoire she chose represented an important evolution of the piano recital. In addition to promoting the works of Schumann and Brahms, she also introduced composers such as Bach, Scarlatti, and Chopin, among others, who were previously unheard of. She also as an interpreter she exerted an important influence on Schumann and Brahms as creators. The existing correspondence shows the incisive criticism that she made of the works of the two composers. Brahms respected her judgment and closely followed her recommendations.
As a composer, she managed to create a work that is not very abundant but delicate and exquisite and of a particular sensitivity that includes a piano concerto, piano pieces, chamber works and songs. All of her compositions were very well received and admired in her time.
After the death of her husband, Clara, who was 37 years old, decided to dedicate her life to her husband’s memory and music. She not only performed it but edited and cataloged it with the help of Johannes Brahms and other friends of hers. She also transcribed and arranged many of her piano and vocal works. In 1878, Ella Clara was appointed principal piano teacher at the Frankfurt Conservatory, where her reputation attracted countless students.
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