Schumann
Schumann's published compositions were written exclusively for the piano until 1840; he later composed works for piano and orchestra; many Lieder (songs for voice and piano); four symphonies; an opera; and other orchestral, choral, and chamber works. Works such as Carnaval, Symphonic Studies, Kinderszenen, Kreisleriana, and the Fantasie in C are among his most famous. His writings about music appeared mostly in the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik (New Journal for Music), a Leipzig-based publication which he jointly founded.
In 1840, Schumann married Friedrich Wieck's daughter Clara, against the wishes of her father, following a long and acrimonious legal battle, which found in favor of Clara and Robert. Clara also composed music and had a considerable concert career as a pianist, the earnings from which, before her marriage, formed a substantial part of her father's fortune.
Schumann suffered from a mental disorder, first manifesting itself in 1833 as a severe melancholic depressive episode, which recurred several times alternating with phases of ‘exaltation’ and increasingly also delusional ideas of being poisoned or threatened with metallic items. After a suicide attempt in 1854, Schumann was admitted to a mental asylum, at his own request, in Endenich near Bonn. Diagnosed with "psychotic melancholia", Schumann died two years later in 1856 without having recovered from his mental illness.
Schumann
SCHUMANN Manfred Overture
RÓZSA Theme, Variations and Finale
R. STRAUSS Don Quixote
Live broadcast concert, 1943
Total duration: 74:26
Joseph Schuster, cello
William Lincer, viola
Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York
conducted by Leonard Bernstein
WEBER Der Freischütz, Euryanthe Overtures
MENDELSSOHN Hebrides, Ruy Blas Overtures
MENDELSSOHN Midsummer Night's Dream Nocturne
BERLIOZ Les francs juges, Le roi Lear, Roman Carnival Overtures
AUBER Masaniello Overture
NICOLAI Merry Wives of Windsor Overture
CHOPIN Funeral March (arr. Elgar)
MEYERBEER Coronation March
SCHUMANN Manfred Overture
SUPPÉ Light Cavalry Overture
Studio recordings, 1932-1937
Total duration: 1hr 58:06
BBC Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Sir Adrian Boult
LISZT Piano Concerto No. 1
Solo works and transcriptions of music by Debussy, Falla, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Scarlatti, Schubert, Schumann, Scriabin, Wagner, Weber
Studio recordings, 1928-1936
Total duration: 1hr 58:16
Alexander Brailowsky, piano
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
conducted by Julius Prüwer
BERLIOZ Benvenuto Cellini Overture
REGER Hiller Variations*
SCHUMANN Symphony No. 4
Live concert recordings, 1951
Total duration: 79:30
Sinfonie-Orchester Des Nordwestdeutschen Rundfunks Hamburg
conducted by Fritz Busch
(*part section: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Paul van Kempen)
FRESCOBALDI Four Pieces
SCHUMANN Symphony No. 4
BUSONI Berceuse élégiaque
MUSSORGSKY Pictures at an Exhibition
Recorded live in 1953
Total duration: 75:55
Boston Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Guido Cantelli
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5
SCHUMANN Symphony No. 4
VIVALDI L'Estro Armonico: Concerto Grosso No. 11
R. STRAUSS Don Juan
CRESTON Dance Overture
Recorded in 1956
Total duration: 2hr 23:36
Wilhelm Backhaus, piano
Walter Gieseking, piano
New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Guido Cantelli
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