Introduction

Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 13. Estrella

Composer: Robert Schumann

Performer: Boris Giltburg

Leafing through the latest biographies of the 19th-century German composer Robert Schumann, it is tempting to fast-forward to the final chapters…

Kinderszenen (Scenes of Childhood), Op. 15: No. 7. Träumerei (Dreaming) (excerpt)

Composer: Robert Schumann

Performer: Evelyne Dubourg

One of Schumann's best loved melodies: Träumerei ('Dreaming') from his 1838 piano collection Kinderszenen ('Scenes from Childhood')…

11 Jugendlieder, Anhang M2: No. 4. An Anna I (Lange harrt' ich) (excerpt)

Composer: Robert Schumann

Performer: Hans Jörg Mammel, Uta Hielscher

In late March 1828, after leaving high school, Schumann matriculated at the University of Leipzig to study Law.

Piano Quartet in C Minor, Anh. E1: II. Minuetto: Presto (excerpt)

Composer: Robert Schumann

Ensemble: Trio Parnassus

Performer: Thomas Selditz

In the summer of 1829, Schumann left Leipzig for Heidelberg, ostensibly to continue his studies…

Theme and Variations on the name Abegg, Op. 1 (excerpt)

Composer: Robert Schumann

Performer: Kotaro Fukuma

Schumann departed Heidelberg for Leipzig in September 1830…

Papillons (Butterflies), Op. 2: XII. Finale

Composer: Robert Schumann

Performer: Boris Giltburg

The summer of 1833 brought with it a deep depression that would later recur at roughly evenly spaced periods throughout the composer's life.

Carnaval, Op. 9: No. 5. Eusebius - No. 6. Florestan

Composer: Robert Schumann

Performer: Boris Giltburg

Schumann's affair with Ernestine ended towards the end of 1835, a few months after the composer discovered her illegitimate birth – and thus that she had no dowry.

Kreisleriana, Op. 16: I. Äusserst bewegt (excerpt)

Composer: Robert Schumann

Performer: Jenő Jandó

'Sometimes your music actually frightens me, and I wonder: is it really true that the creator of such things is going to be my husband?'

Dichterliebe (Poet's Love), Op. 48: No. 11. Ein Jüngling liebt ein Mädchen (A Young Man Loves a Maiden)

Composer: Robert Schumann

Performer: Thomas E. Bauer, Uta Hielscher

If 1840 was Schumann's year of song, then 1841 was his year of orchestral music…

Symphony No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 38, "Spring": I. Andante un poco maestoso - Allegro molto vivace (excerpt)

Composer: Robert Schumann

Ensemble: Brussels Philharmonic

Conductor: Ali Rahbari

1842 witnessed another creative departure: chamber music…

Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise and the Peri), Op. 50, Part III: Verstossen! Verschlossen (Cast Out! From the Golden Gate) (excerpt)

Composer: Robert Schumann

Ensemble: Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra

Performer: Magdaléna Hajóssyová

Conductor: Wolf-Dieter Hauschild

Schumann's next main musical projects were orchestral in nature…

Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54: II. Intermezzo: Andantino grazioso - III. Allegro vivace (excerpt)

Composer: Robert Schumann

Ensemble: Budapest Symphony Orchestra

Performer: Jenő Jandó

Conductor: András Ligeti

1845 also witnessed a series of works based on Schumann's continuing study of musical counterpoint…

Genoveva, Op. 81: Overture (excerpt)

Composer: Robert Schumann

Ensemble: Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra

Conductor: Johannes Wildner

Schumann's new-found interest in dramatic music would give rise to two additional large-scale works: Manfred, incidental music based on Lord Byron's 1817 poem; and the grand orchestral-choral work…

4 Marches, Op. 76: No. 4 in E-Flat Major: Mit kraft und feuer (excerpt)

Composer: Robert Schumann

Performer: Juan Carlos Rodríguez

Schumann had long been trying to find a lucrative salaried position – in Leipzig, Dresden or elsewhere.

Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120: II. Romanze: Ziemlich langsam (excerpt)

Composer: Robert Schumann

Ensemble: Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR

Conductor: Neville Marriner

Schumann held his Düsseldorf position for three seasons, a period during which he continued to compose large-scale works intended for public performance…

Variations on an Original Theme, Anh. F39, "Geistervariationen" (Ghost Variations): Theme: Leise, innig (excerpt)

Composer: Robert Schumann

Performer: Olivier Chauzu

All too aware of his deteriorating condition, and afraid of causing physical harm to his wife, Schumann asked that he be removed to an asylum on the 26th of February 1854.

Variations on an Original Theme, Anh. F39, "Geistervariationen" (Ghost Variations): Variation 4 (excerpt)

Composer: Robert Schumann

Performer: Olivier Chauzu

The story, however, does not end here…

Violin Concerto in D Minor, WoO 1: III. Lebhaft, doch nicht schnell (excerpt)

Composer: Robert Schumann

Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Performer: Ilya Kaler

Conductor: Pietari Inkinen