Wow, I love reading about artists and what kind of unique challenges they had in their lives. So great to learn about someone who was new to me. I've only heard of Brahms and Robert Schumann. I also love the way you bring up these different ideas and how life affects these artists and their work. It's always an interesting topic to me. Thank you for including the painting too. Another beautiful piece by you, and a beautiful piece by Clara Wieck Schumann. I've always loved the music out of the romantic era.. it's just what I needed to draw out whatever feeling was struggling to get through!
This might be a little too shop-talk-y, but I'd love to read someday about what you listen for in different performances of these pieces and how you personally choose them for your essays!
Thanks, Connie! I'm with you — the emotional worlds of the Romantic composers feels like home to me. The themes of longing, nature, poetry, and enlightenment embedded in music from that era resonate so deeply.
And I love your idea about sharing how I select the recordings featured with my essays! Will definitely need to think on how to present that to everyone. (On a similar note, I'm planning a post for this summer that goes into some of the melancholy music I listen to outside of classical works, inspired by a convo we had over at your newsletter a few months ago. Stay tuned! 😃)
Michael! 💙 Thank you for this beautifully complicated tribute to Clara, which celebrates the equally complicated holiday! As a creative woman married to a male artist, I can empathize with Clara’s thoughts that you included here. Imposter syndrome, household and business responsibilities, not quite sure where the male gaze begins and my true desires begin. Oof!! This gorgeous piece of hers mimics all of my emotions: earnest confidence, quiet contemplation, bright exclamations and anxious questions. All the while feeling as if I’m a split personality reasoning with myself, sometimes in a harmonic sync, but other times in devastating argument, pleading for answers. All to conclude with a soft, low tremble: both an exhausted shudder but also electric quiver from the strength I know I still have🔥 How absolutely inspiring!!
Thanks, Katie — I’m glad so much of Clara’s story resonated with you! Love the way you positioned that “soft, low tremble” that ends rhe movement — absolutely a moment of quiet repose, where we also hear the crackling of sparks that soon become a raging fire of emotion in the concerto’s finale. 💙
A marvellous choice for an article falling around International Women's Day. I find this a really positive story. It would be easy to see only the negatives, but this is a nuanced story. Apart from the obvious difficulties that a woman of her era faced, she received recognition during her lifetime and ended up on a bank note which is fantastic. Thank you Michael, I shall now listen, and judging by everything you send us, it will be tremendous. I love the painting too.
Thank you, Jules. I think you're spot-on — nuance is key. As painful as it is that Clara's story and music were largely marginalized in the century after her death, it's wonderful to consider how her talents were embraced in her lifetime, and to live in an age when the full scope of her life is finally being re-established. Hope you enjoyed Rana's performance of this incredible work!
Hey Michael, what a lovely discussion of Clara. As you say, the piano|cello dialogue would have been revolutionary in its day. For me, it always seems a profound exploration of the internal and external (which Beatrice Rana here brings out wonderfully just before the cello comes in and then sustains so sensitively as they play together). I guess it is also a truly Romantic piece, and one which in lots of ways brings us a particular moment in Germany’s intellectual and artistic history.
Thank you very much.
Like lots of people, I often listen to music when I write. I find it can help me find a frequency within which to write the story I’m working on (The Tarnished Gloriole, here on Substack for free, in weekly instalments - please have a look!) a major part of which is set in nineteenth century Berlin.
Glad you enjoyed! I love your discussion of the pull between internal and external expression in this work — so true! Sandwiched in between movements of such overwhelming drama, the Romanze is truly a dive within, a sanctuary of sound where we can find calm and connection.
Thanks for being here, Nicolas. I’m definitely going to check out your serial!
What an incredible life story. She is an inspiration, especially in the way she was so inventive, even avant-garde, and continued to play and compose despite all her responsibilities. Thanks for bringing this story and music to us, Michael! 💙
My pleasure, Kate! Clara is such an inspiring artist, and I’m glad more pianists are championing her music these days. There’s so much beauty to behold. 💙
Wow, I love reading about artists and what kind of unique challenges they had in their lives. So great to learn about someone who was new to me. I've only heard of Brahms and Robert Schumann. I also love the way you bring up these different ideas and how life affects these artists and their work. It's always an interesting topic to me. Thank you for including the painting too. Another beautiful piece by you, and a beautiful piece by Clara Wieck Schumann. I've always loved the music out of the romantic era.. it's just what I needed to draw out whatever feeling was struggling to get through!
This might be a little too shop-talk-y, but I'd love to read someday about what you listen for in different performances of these pieces and how you personally choose them for your essays!
Thanks, Connie! I'm with you — the emotional worlds of the Romantic composers feels like home to me. The themes of longing, nature, poetry, and enlightenment embedded in music from that era resonate so deeply.
And I love your idea about sharing how I select the recordings featured with my essays! Will definitely need to think on how to present that to everyone. (On a similar note, I'm planning a post for this summer that goes into some of the melancholy music I listen to outside of classical works, inspired by a convo we had over at your newsletter a few months ago. Stay tuned! 😃)
Ooooh yess! Branching out in a different genre!! I'm so looking forward to reading it! Honored to be adjacent! 🤩
Wonderful essay! It was great learning more about her. I had no idea her career was that long, incredible! And the performance was also wonderful.
Thank you! It’s truly mind-boggling to think of a performance career lasting 63 years. What a testament to her resilience, strength, and artistry.
Michael! 💙 Thank you for this beautifully complicated tribute to Clara, which celebrates the equally complicated holiday! As a creative woman married to a male artist, I can empathize with Clara’s thoughts that you included here. Imposter syndrome, household and business responsibilities, not quite sure where the male gaze begins and my true desires begin. Oof!! This gorgeous piece of hers mimics all of my emotions: earnest confidence, quiet contemplation, bright exclamations and anxious questions. All the while feeling as if I’m a split personality reasoning with myself, sometimes in a harmonic sync, but other times in devastating argument, pleading for answers. All to conclude with a soft, low tremble: both an exhausted shudder but also electric quiver from the strength I know I still have🔥 How absolutely inspiring!!
Thanks, Katie — I’m glad so much of Clara’s story resonated with you! Love the way you positioned that “soft, low tremble” that ends rhe movement — absolutely a moment of quiet repose, where we also hear the crackling of sparks that soon become a raging fire of emotion in the concerto’s finale. 💙
A marvellous choice for an article falling around International Women's Day. I find this a really positive story. It would be easy to see only the negatives, but this is a nuanced story. Apart from the obvious difficulties that a woman of her era faced, she received recognition during her lifetime and ended up on a bank note which is fantastic. Thank you Michael, I shall now listen, and judging by everything you send us, it will be tremendous. I love the painting too.
Thank you, Jules. I think you're spot-on — nuance is key. As painful as it is that Clara's story and music were largely marginalized in the century after her death, it's wonderful to consider how her talents were embraced in her lifetime, and to live in an age when the full scope of her life is finally being re-established. Hope you enjoyed Rana's performance of this incredible work!
I did! Thank you 😊
Hey Michael, what a lovely discussion of Clara. As you say, the piano|cello dialogue would have been revolutionary in its day. For me, it always seems a profound exploration of the internal and external (which Beatrice Rana here brings out wonderfully just before the cello comes in and then sustains so sensitively as they play together). I guess it is also a truly Romantic piece, and one which in lots of ways brings us a particular moment in Germany’s intellectual and artistic history.
Thank you very much.
Like lots of people, I often listen to music when I write. I find it can help me find a frequency within which to write the story I’m working on (The Tarnished Gloriole, here on Substack for free, in weekly instalments - please have a look!) a major part of which is set in nineteenth century Berlin.
Thank you very much.
Glad you enjoyed! I love your discussion of the pull between internal and external expression in this work — so true! Sandwiched in between movements of such overwhelming drama, the Romanze is truly a dive within, a sanctuary of sound where we can find calm and connection.
Thanks for being here, Nicolas. I’m definitely going to check out your serial!
What an incredible life story. She is an inspiration, especially in the way she was so inventive, even avant-garde, and continued to play and compose despite all her responsibilities. Thanks for bringing this story and music to us, Michael! 💙
My pleasure, Kate! Clara is such an inspiring artist, and I’m glad more pianists are championing her music these days. There’s so much beauty to behold. 💙