Clara Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 7

Composer: Clara Josephine Schumann born: Wieck (13 September 1819 20 May 1896) Orchestra: Alma Mahler Sinfonietta Conductor: Stefania Rinaldi Soloist: Francesco Nicolosi Year of recording: 2004 Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 7, written in 18331835. 00:00 I. Allegro maestoso 07:07 II. Romanze: Andante non troppo, con grazia 12:00 III. Finale: Allegro non troppo Allegro molto Young Clara Wieck s piano concerto, like that of her future husband Robert Schumann, is in A minor, but that s the only detail the two compositions share. Clara s concerto is the work of an independentminded young piano virtuoso who, although she was only 13 when she began writing it, was fully aware of the most progressive tendencies of German music in the 1830s. It s true that Robert did have his fingers in this piece; the two were already showing their works in progress to each other and in fact, Robert orchestrated what would in two years become the finale