Clara and the women
Donald Macleod meets the friends (and foes) of composer Clara Schumann. Today, we explore the women who are often erased from Clara's life story.
Clara Schumann is considered one of the most talented composer-pianists of the Romantic era. Put to work by her domineering father from an early age, as a touring performer she soon drew the admiration of her peers - and made friends who would remain important presences in her life until the end. As an adult, she spent several hours every day writing and replying to their letters. This week, Donald Macleod explores some of those relationships. Clara Schumann biographies are often dominated by stories of the men in her life - but Clara had many significant relationships with women also, though they are not as well recorded. Today, Donald explores how Clara’s attitude to her own gender evolved over the years.
Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 17
The Nash Ensemble
3 Lieder Op. 12
Olena Tokar, soprano
Igor Gryshyn, piano
6 Lieder, Op. 13
Barbara Bonney, soprano
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano
Lehmann, L: The Daisy-Chain
Catherine Wyn-Rogers, mezzo-soprano
Janice Watson, soprano
Steuart Bedford, piano
Toby Spence, tenor
Neal Davies, baritone
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio Wales & West
On radio
Broadcast
- Fri 30 Oct 202616:00BBC Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.
