ARTISTS


THE SCHUMANN LETTERS
A STORY OF LOVE AND MUSIC IN THE SHADOW OF MADNESS

GALLERY | BIOGRAPHY | REVIEWS | MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS | RIDERS


GALLERY

 

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BIOGRAPHY
TOURING IN 2015.16

Music by Robert Schumann
Text by Colin Fox Produced by Andrew Kwan
 
German composer Robert Schumann fell in love with a young virtuoso pianist Clara Wieck. Despite adamant opposition from her father throughout their courtship, the couple sought legal consent and were wed in 1840. During this time, thousands of letters were written between them which provide the inspiration for this music-as-theatre performance.

A new musical concept, The Schumann Letters has been enticing audiences with a unique combination of storytelling, piano music and song. Drawn from the thousands of historic letters written between Robert Schumann and his love, Clara, this show explores Schumann’s life, love and music by delicately intertwining narration with Schumann’s original compositions.

Established in 2008, The Schumann Letters has toured extensively throughout the Prairie Provinces, British Columbia, Yukon and Ontario. With more than forty performances across the country and a featured spot on a national CBC broadcast, it continues to build excitement for an exquisite combination of drama, history and music. The Schumann Letters has seen performances in cities ranging from Outlook SK, to Toronto ON, and Fort McMurray AB to Winnipeg MB. Recently, The Schumann Letters saw its international debut at the Al Maiden Cultural Centre in Kuwait City presented by the Dar Museum. With enthusiastic receptions in centres small and large, the show was selected by Prairie Debut for their 2009.2010 touring roster. It has also taken part in prestigious summer festivals including the Ottawa Chamber Festival, Festival of the Sound and the Elora Festival. The 2012.13 season will see The Schumann Letters in British Columbia and Ontario.

(as of September 2012)

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REVIEWS

"I had the privilege of attending The Schumann Letters last week in Brandon. The concert was simply magnificent. The concept was fresh and the delivery was impeccable. To intertwine words and music with such finesse kept my interest from start to finish."

- JAMES EHNES, Grammy/JUNO award winning violinist

“The concept is brilliant…each piece of music took on new meaning in the context of the details of the tortuous lives of Robert and his wife, Clara”

-THE BRANTFORD EXPOSITOR

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MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS
PRODUCTION INCLUDES THESE WORKS AND MANY OTHERS

Träumerei (Reverie), Op. 15 No. 7
from Kinderszenen

Kennst du das Land, ( Do You Know the Land…) Op. 98a No. 1
from Lieder und Gesänge aus Wilhelm Meister

Ich hab' im Traum geweinet (I wept in my dream), Op. 48 No. 13
from Dichterliebe

Aufschwung (Soaring), Op. 12 No. 2
from Fantasiestücke

Impromptu on a Theme by Clara Wieck, Op. 5

Piano Sonata No. 3 in f minor, Op. 14

Er, der Herrlichste von allen (He, the Most Glorious of All),Op. 42 No. 2
from Frauenliebe und leben

O ihr Herren (O You Gentlemen), Op. 37 No. 3
from Gedichte aus Liebesfrühling

Schmetterling: O Schmetterling sprich, Op. 79 No. 2
from Lieder-Album für die Jugend

Die Lotosblume (The Lotus Flower), Op. 25 No. 7
from Myrten

Widmung (Dedication), Op 25 No. 1
from Myrten

and other Schumann works

The Schumann Letters is a concert format presentation of 2 halves (approximately 40 minutes) plus intermission

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RIDERS

Stage Plot & Technical Requirements
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