Today we celebrate the 200th birthday of German pianist and composer Clara Schumann! She regarded as one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic Era.
Image: Clara Schumann / Bergen Public Library, Flickr
Schumann was born Clara Josephine Wieck on September 13, 1819 to Friedrich Wieck, a prominent piano teacher, and Marianne Tromlitz, a singer. She was raised under the strict guidance of her father after her parents separated. A child prodigy, Schumann began performing international concert tours by the age of 11. She became one of the first pianists to perform from memory, changing the standard practice for future professional performers.
She later married famed composer Robert Schumann in 1840, against the wishes of her father. The couple had sued Wieck in court in order for them to marry. Together they would have eight children. Although often overshadowed by her husband’s work, she was the main breadwinner of the family during their life together, earning money from her concert performances and teaching. After his death in 1856, she continued to promote his work for the rest of her life. Schumann’s career would span 61 years and leave a lasting impact in the world of classical music.
Schumann died on May 20, 1896 at the age of 76.
View Clara Schumann’s Geni Profile
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Source: Geni.com
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