This February, the Houston Symphony invites you to discover one of history’s most idiosyncratic geniuses: Robert Schumann. The Schumann Festival is a celebration of the composer’s life and work, with concerts and events at Jones Hall, Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
“The music of Schumann, which borders naturally upon that of Beethoven and yet at the same time is so distinct from his, opens up for us a whole world of new musical forms and strikes chords which his great predecessors had not yet touched upon. We find in it an echo of the mysteriously deep processes of our spiritual life, of those moments of doubt and despair, and striving towards the ideal to which the heart of modern man is prey.” —Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
About the Festival
Perhaps the archetypal Romantic composer, Schumann had an intense interest in literature and sought to create music that was uniquely poetic. Full of wild imagination, fantasy, and irony, his works feature powerful emotions, secret symbols, and cyphers—most famously, he encoded the name of the love of his life, the pianist Clara Wieck, into many pieces.
Schumann’s often tortured inner-life has led to much speculation into the connection between artistic genius and mental illness, but ultimately, his music speaks to the power of art to heal the troubled soul. A pivotal figure in the history of music, Schumann profoundly influenced Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and future generations of composers, forever changing the way we think about what music is and what it can be.
Featuring performances from Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada and renowned guest artists Benjamin Grosvenor and Alisa Weilerstein, this festival explores Schumann’s wide-ranging creativity through his symphonies, concertos, choruses, chamber music, and songs. Lectures and other events give festival-goers the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the man, his times, and the hidden meanings of his fascinating music.
Now Announcing: The Full Line-up of Schumann Festival Events
- Schumann Festival: Gallery Tour + Performance: Schumann and Romantic Art
Thursday, February 6, 5 p.m.
Location: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston - Schumann Festival Lecture: Bipolar Disorder and the Creative Process
Saturday, February, 8, 5 p.m.
Location: Jones Hall - Schumann Festival: Houston Symphony with Benjamin Grosvenor
Saturday, February 8, 8 p.m. &
Sunday, February 9, 2:30 p.m.
Location: Jones Hall - Schumann Festival: Intimate Songs & Grand Choruses
Thursday, February 13, 8 p.m.
Location: Jones Hall - Schumann Festival: Chamber Music with Alisa Weilerstein and Houston Symphony Musicians
Friday, February 14, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center - Schumann Festival: Houston Symphony with Alisa Weilerstein
Saturday, February 15, 8 p.m. &
Sunday, February 16, 2:30 p.m.
The Schumann Festival takes place February 6–16, 2020. Learn more & get tickets.
The Schumann Festival is made possible thanks to the generous support from the Houston Symphony Endowment, The Humphreys Foundation, Bobby & Phoebe Tudor, and Drs. M.S. & Marie-Luise Kalsi.
