Composer of the Month 6/2010: Robert Schumann   (selected by Peter van Dessel / Belgium)

Portugal 1.3.2010 Robert Schumann was born in Zwickau on June 8th, 1810. He studied in Leipzig and Heidelberg jurisprudences and later music. He received piano lessons from his later father-in-law Friedrich Wieck. He had to give up his planned career as a pianist, however, after exaggerated piano technical studies. 1834 Schumann was co-founder of the 'new magazine for music'. 1843 he was a teacher at the conservatory in Leipzig. From 1844 to 1850 he stayed in Dresden where he founded the singing academy. In 1850 he became municipal music director 1850 in Duesseldorf. He had to resign from this job in 1853, however, because of a nerve suffering. After a suicide attempt Robert Schumann 1854 was taken to a psychiatric clinic. Robert Schumann is one of the most important representatives of the German Romanticism. He composed numerous songs and piano pieces, orchestra-, choir- and chamber music as well as an opera. Robert Schumann died in Endenich at Bonn on July 29th, 1856. His birthday comes up again for the 200th time in June 2010. The video shows the 2nd movement from Robert Schumann's Piano Quintett in E flat Major, Op.44 with Hélène Grimaud (piano), Renaud Capuçon, Sayaka Shoji (violins), Lars Anders Tomter (viola) und Mischa Maisky (cello), recorded at the Verbier Festival 2007. More composers in the members only section