A Most Romantic Story for the Cold Autumn Air

by Elana Siegel
Marketing Intern

The love story of Robert Schumann and his wife Clara (pictured at right) is one of the most romantic among musicians. A 20 year old Schumann first met 11 year old Clara in 1830 when he became a student of Clara's father Friedrich Wieck. He was impressed with her almost immediately. As his diary states: "What a creature Clara is! She certainly talked more cleverly than any of us...whims and fancies, laughter and tears, death and life, mostly in sharp contrasts change in this girl with the speed of lightning."

Schumann introduced Clara to poetry and entertained her and her siblings with scary stories. As Clara grew older, she was inducted into Schumann's "Davidsbund," a gathering of his classical musician friends. Still, the relationship between Schumann and Clara was one "like a brother and sister" reveals a letter Schumann wrote.

Soon, a new pupil, Ernestine, came to study with Wieck. By this time, Clara was an accomplished pianist herself. She was sent to study with the conductor of the Dresden Opera, Carl Reissiger, leaving Schumann and Ernestine behind at the Wieck residence. An engagement between Schumann and Ernestine seemed eminent. Clara was devastated when she found out. She confided in her diary that he "came into the room and hardly gave me a passing greeting. Oh! I love no one as I love him, and he did not even look at me."

But Clara had despaired too soon. Ernestine was soon sent home so that she would not be compromised before an engagement could be formalized. Schumann and Clara again began to spend time together. She had grown into a fine young woman, and Schumann noticed. Before long, he dedicated his Sonata in F Sharp Minor to Clara. In November of 1835, just before Clara and her father left for an extended performance tour, Schumann took Clara into his arms and kissed her.

When Schumann first asked Wieck for Clara's hand, he was threatened with death if he ever tried to approach her again. Wieck forbade any further contact between the two. Clara and Schumann were forced to pass letters through friends, and Clara was kept away from Schumann with a strict tour of performances organized by her father. Schumann again tried to ask Wieck for Clara's hand. Wieck treated Schumann "like dirt beneath his feet," according to a letter Schumann wrote to Clara.

On August 14, 1837, seven years after meeting, Clara and Schumann became engaged in secret.

When Wieck found out, he threatened to take Schumann to court and publicly shame him. The couple ignored these threats. In 1839, Clara and Schumann wrote to the Court of Appeals asking to be married without the permission of Friedrich Wieck. The court consented to marriage, and on September 12th, 1839, the couple was married one day shy of Clara's 21st birthday.

There is no doubt that Schumann's romantic music was inspired by his love for Clara. Keyboard Conversationalist Jeffrey Siegel will be performing at Mills Hall in the Mosse Humanities Building on Tuesday, November 9th at 7:30pm in a program inpired by Schumann's romantic music. Compositions include Schumann’s Opus 12 and the Symphonic Etudes Opus 13, also known as Variations on a "Melody of a False Father-in-Law" (that darn Friedrich Wieck).

Siegel will also be featured in a PBS television special highlighting his keyboard conversations at a date to be determined (don't worry, we'll let you know when it will air!)

During both performances, Siegel will play a full concert with informal commentary in between pieces. During these commentaries, Siegel provides historical backgrounds, examples of musical motifs and provocative questions to consider while listening. Check out a typical “conversation” below.