Musicians get busy as Schumann turns 200
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff reporter
Tuesday marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of the composer Robert Schumann.
A talented pianist, writer and composer, he was born in 1810 in Zwickau, Saxony and has created some of the most representative works of German Romanticism.
The romantic character of his oeuvre was further highlighted through his marriage and creative partnership with the piano prodigy Clara Wiek-Schumann. He married Clara after a long and embittered legal battle with his piano instructor and father-in-law Friedrich Wiek. Clara is also known for composing and moreover premiering many of her husband’s piano pieces.
Last month the Schumann Chamber Music Festival kicked off at Hoam Art Hall and the festivity continues with a lineup of other special events around Seoul.
On Wednesday, the country’s foremost classical music radio program KBS Classic FM will host a concert titled ``Robert & Clara Schumann, and Brahms’’ at KBS Hall, Yeouido.
The second of the radio program’s concert series dedicated to German Romanticism, the show will feature Clara’s rarely heard Piano Concerto in A minor and Robert’s Symphony No. 2. Seoul National University professor Choi Hie-yon will appear as soloist with the KBS Symphony Orchestra.
Also included is ``Akademische Festouverture,’’ Op. 80 by Brahms, who shared a deep friendship with the couple. Brahms is often remembered for his unrequited love toward Clara, and never marrying another woman.
Clara herself is also well-regarded for standing by Robert’s side as he suffered a mental illness, which some believe may have been associated with syphilis, in the later period of his life. Robert attempted suicide before voluntarily entering a mental asylum in Bonn, where he died two years later in 1856 at the age of 46.
Contrary to popular belief it is said that their love story was not so rosy ― Clara was unable to fully pursue her own musical activities while raising seven children and as an irate Schumann wished not to be disturbed by her practicing scales when he was composing. Nevertheless following her husband’s death Clara devoted herself to the interpretation of his work, the most beautiful of which was written during their honeymoon period.
Call (02) 781-3266 for more information. The concert will be broadcast live on KBS Classic FM (93.1 Mhz).
Top local artists will gather every Thursday at Kumho Art Hall, downtown Seoul for a series of weekly concerts on Schumann.
On June 17, popular young artists including pianist Son Yeol-eum, violinists Kwun Hyuk-joo and Jang Yoo-jin, violist Lee Han-na and cellist Lee Jung-ran will perform a concert themed ``Schumann’s Romance’’ featuring Schumann’s piano trios and Brahms’ piano quartets.
On June 24, violinist Lee Sung-joo will play Schumann’s Violin Sonatas Nos. 1, 2 and 3, and on July 8, veteran pianist Han Dong-il and ensemble TIMF will play the famous Fantasy in C major. On Nov. 6, cellist and professor Yang Sung-won and renowned violist Kim Sang-jin will also present romantic chamber works. Call (02) 6303-7700.
The Schumanns’ romance will come to life through love duets sung at Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex. On June 26, the first of the ``Schumann’s 200th Anniversary Series’’ will feature soprano Jang Hyun-joo, a professor at Yonsei University, and Kim Sae-il, the winning tenor from the 8th International Lied Competition of the Japan Schubert Society. They will sing love serenades such as ``Liebhabers Staendchen,’’ Op. 34-2.
Also to be staged is Clara’s rarely heard vocal compositions including ``Ich stand in dunklen Traeumen’’ and ``Liebeszauber’’ from the six-song cycle ``Sechs Lieder,’’ Op. 13. Kim will sing a solo, ``Widmung,’’ which Robert famously dedicated to his wife. Call 1577-7766 for more information.
Meanwhile superstar pianist Evgeny Kissin has released a special recording of Robert Schumann under the RCA Red Seal label, ``Kissin Plays Schumann.’’ The three-CD package includes Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 with the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini, Variations on the Name Abegg, Op. 1, ``Carnaval,’’ Op. 9 and ``Widmung’’ (transcribed by Liszt).