Schumann, Clara: Lorelei (Text: Heinrich Heine)

Women in love, in pain and in emotional turmoil – such is the subject matter of most of the songs that Swedish soprano Miah Persson and pianist Joseph Breinl have chosen for this recital of works by Robert and Clara Schumann.

The year of Robert and Clara’s wedding is often called Schumann’s Liederjahr; during this ‘year of song’ he composed more than 150 songs, and his wedding gift to Clara was in fact a song cycle, Myrthen, Op. 25. Sixteen songs dated 1840 can be found here, including the Frauenliebe und Leben cycle, the crowning achievement of the year.

But Robert also encouraged Clara to write songs and in 1841 they jointly published a collection entitled The Spring of Love. Clara had composed three of the songs (the 3 Lieder, Op. 12) and Robert the remaining nine, including Der Himmel hat eine Träne geweint

This disc also features Robert’s final song cycle – composed in 1852 and focussing on the life and tragic end of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots – along with four of Clara’s last songs.

As well as being well-known in opera houses across the world, Miah Persson is increasingly in demand as a recitalist, performing regularly with Joseph Breinl.

Maximilian Schmidt has a passion for opera and has sung roles such as Tamono and Don Ottavio. He is increasingly performing as a concert singer and has worked regularly with Gerold Huber. This CD of Schumann songs, based on texts by Heine documents the cooperation of the two. The two major cycles Dichterliebe and Liederkreis are complemented by three compositions by Clara Schumann.

Clara Schumann the composer often worked in her husband’s shadow, many of her songs being mistaken for his although those best loved by the public flowed from her pen.

Some were composed and performed before their marriage, others set texts which he had suggested. “There is really nothing better than composing for oneself,” Clara noted in her diary in 1853, yet after Robert’s death three year later she composed no more, making these the fruits of mutual love all the more precious.

The accompaniment is here performed on Clara Schumann’s fortepiano.