Robert Schumann's father, a bookseller and publisher in Zwickau, encouraged his son's interest in literature and music.
Composer Biography
Schumann initially studied law at the Universities of Leipzig and Heidelberg but showed little interest, with his musical inclinations growing stronger.
Composer Biography
An injury to Robert Schumann's right hand, reportedly from a self-devised 'cigar-box machine,' ended his prospects of a career as a concert pianist.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Schumann's literary background is evident in his choice of poems for musical settings, showing a more cultivated taste than some contemporaries.
Compositional Technique
Schumann explored the melodrama form, which combines spoken dialogue with musical accompaniment, a genre that had seen popularity in the 18th century.
Performer Biography
Detlef Roth, the baritone on this album, is a polyglot, fluent in several languages and highly proficient in others.
Composer Biography
Schumann married Clara Wieck, the daughter of his piano teacher Friedrich Wieck, in 1840, despite her father's opposition which even led to litigation.
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