Main content

Clara and Liszt

Donald Macleod meets the friends (and foes) of composer Clara Schumann. Today, her peer and fierce rival: Franz Liszt.

Clara Schumann is considered one of the most talented composer-pianists of the Romantic era. Put to work by her domineering father from an early age, as a touring performer she soon drew the admiration of her peers - and made friends who would remain important presences in her life until the end. As an adult, she spent several hours every day writing and replying to their letters. This week, Donald Macleod explores some of those relationships. Today, her peer and fierce rival: Franz Liszt.

Liszt: Liebestraum, S541 No 3 (Nocturne in A flat major)
Igor Levit, piano

Souvenir de Vienne, Op 9
Susanne Gr眉tzmann, piano

Liszt: Hexam茅ron, Grandes variations de concert sur un th锚me des "Puritains", S654
Aglika Genova & Liuben Dimitrov, piano

Liszt: Sonata in B minor: I. Lento assai
Igor Levit, piano

Variations de Concert, Op 8
Jozef De Beenhouwer, piano

Produced by Alice McKee for 91福利社 Audio Wales & West

24 days left to listen

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Franz Liszt

    Nocturne No 3 in A flat major (from Liebestraum, S541)

    Performer: Igor Levit.
    • SONY : G0010004649538I.
    • SONY.
    • 1.
  • Clara Schumann

    Souvenir de Vienne, Op 9

    Performer: Susanne Gr眉tzmann.
    • PROFIL : PHO-7065.
    • PROFIL.
    • 5.
  • Franz Liszt

    Hexameron, S392

    Performer: Aglika Genova. Performer: Liuben Dimitrov.
    • CPO 777 896-2.
    • CPO.
    • 5.
  • Franz Liszt

    Piano Sonata in B minor, S178 (Lento Assai)

    Performer: Igor Levit.
    • SONY : G0100050178156.
    • SONY.
    • 4.
  • Clara Schumann

    Variations de Concert, Op 8

    Performer: Jozef de Beenhouwer.
    • PARTRIDGE : 113-12.
    • PARTRIDGE.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Last Tuesday 16:00

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.