Presented by the Vancouver Chamber Music Society in collaboration with Anvil Theatre.

Program: 

Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 17 – Clara Schumann

Piano Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 44 – Robert Schumann

Robert and Clara Schumann are famous not just for their musical legacy but for what most consider classical music’s most tragically romantic love triangle involving Johannes Brahms. Join the Vancouver Chamber Music Society for a snapshot into the romance of the Schumann couple before tragedy stuck.

Robert and Clara Schumann were as much loved by Vienna as they were in love with each other. In 1842, Robert dedicated his newly composed Piano Quintet in E-flat Major to his wife, the great pianist Clara Schumann. After performing the work at its first public exhibition, Clara pronounced it “splendid, full of vigour and freshness.”

Later in 1846, Clara wrote her Piano Trio in G Minor during a time of hardship when Robert was extremely ill, and she was pregnant with their fourth child. From lyrical yearning to gentle playfulness, this trio exudes the spirit of romanticism and remains the only chamber work that Clara wrote.

Ten years later, Robert would pass away in a psychiatric institute where he spent his last two years while Brahms lived with the Schumann family and developed conflicting feelings for Clara. Despite their mutual affection and Clara’s widowhood, the two never married but remained lifelong friends.

Come hear the stories of Robert and Clara’s life brought to modern times by the exemplary educators of the Vancouver Academy of Music.

Subscribe to all five VCMS concerts by October 16, 2023 and save 20%! Phone the Anvil Theatre Box Office at 604-521-5050 to secure your subscription for $112.

ABOUT VANCOUVER CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY (VCMS) 

The Vancouver Chamber Music Society is among the leading presenters of exceptional chamber music in Western Canada. Showcasing world-renowned chamber ensembles, accomplished soloists, and captivating recital artists, our organization embraces the rich heritage of classical music. We are delighted to bring our fourth annual series to the cultural and commercial hub at Anvil Theatre, offering New Westminster an unparalleled musical experience that transcends time and captivates the senses.