Clara 2019
Clara Schumann: Prodigy, Muse, Virtuoso
In words and music, Reiko presents a portrait of the woman who was, at once, a leading pianist of her day, the wife of one great composer and the intimate friend of another, mother of eight children, composer, and teacher. Her life was marked by tragedy and distinguished by a career which spanned more than sixty years. We see her now as a strikingly independent woman, a woman of her time yet one who worked tirelessly against the grain of assumption and prejudice.
Background
Reiko devised this unique series of narrated recitals, chamber music and concerto programmes to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Clara's birth.
She performs Clara’s own compositions alongside music by the composers that she was closely associated with including Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin and Robert Schumann. Chamber music programmes feature works that Clara performed in collaboration with other leading musicians of the day such as the great violinist Joseph Joachim. "The Travelling Clara" highlights the concertos that Clara performed in the cities that were significant in her career as a travelling virtuoso, including the evergreen Piano Concerto in A minor by her husband Robert Schumann.
Collaborators
Specially devised narration from Peter Quantrill.
Delivered by narrators including Crawford Logan and Paul Ansdell.
