The Schumanns @ 7PM

Please join us as we eavesdrop on an intimate musical conversation between The Schumanns, as heard via three great piano cycles. Robert’s Carnaval of 1834 is the original ‘party piece,’ a sometimes raucous depiction of a masked ball, comprising uncanny portraits of those in his circle, including Chopin, Paganini, his fiancée at the time Ernestine von Fricken, and Clara Wieck herself. Robert’s 1838 Kreisleriana, inspired by ETA Hoffmann’s outrageous character Kapellmeister Kreisler, was written specifically for virtuoso Clara, but ultimately dedicated to Chopin. Clara’s own exquisite and moving Romances Op. 11 date from 1839; the 2nd was initially published by Robert in his journal Neue Zeitschrift für Musik. One year later - following a drawn-out battle with Clara’s father Friedrich - the two were joined in marriage. (Chopin himself is represented by his late, visionary Polonaise-Fantaisie.)

Taking on n this musical escapade will be the  versatile, Grammy-nominated pianist JOHN NOVACEK. John regularly tours the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia as solo recitalist, chamber musician and concerto soloist; in the latter capacity he has presented over thirty concerti with dozens of orchestras. Mr. Novacek begins his current season with an appointment to the Piano and Collaborative Piano faculty of The Mannes School of Music at The New School’s College of Performing Arts.  read more

PROGRAM:

CLARA SCHUMANN Three Romances, Op. 11

ROBERT SCHUMANN Kreisleriana, Op. 16

-Intermission-

FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61

ROBERT SCHUMANN Carnival, Op. 9