Clara Schumann Clara Schumann Clara Schumann (; Clara Josephine Wieck; 13 September 1819 – 20 May 1896) was a German musician and composer, considered one of the most distinguished composers and pianists of the Romantic era. She exerted her influence over a 61-year concert career, changing the format and repertoire of the piano recital, while also having composed a body of work including various piano concertos, chamber works, and choral pieces. She was married to composer Robert Schumann, and together they encouraged and maintained a close relationship with Johannes Brahms. She was the first to perform publicly any work by Brahms, notably
Fantasie in C (Schumann) not spotted until 1910. The text of the passage quoted is: "Accept then these songs [beloved, which I sang for you alone]". Both the Schlegel stanza and the Beethoven quotation are appropriate to Schumann's current situation of separation from Clara Wieck. Schumann wrote to Clara: "The first movement may well be the most passionate I have ever composed – a deep lament for you". They still had many tribulations to suffer before they finally married four years later. Liszt was one of the few pianists capable of meeting the then-unparalleled demands of the "Fantasie", particularly the second movement coda's rapid