22-24 February 2019 saw a weekend-long celebration of the music and legacy of Clara Schumann at St John’s Smith Square on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the composers’ birth.

Festival curator Beverly Vong invited singers Sophie Karthäuser, Stephan Loges, Mhairi Lawson, James Newby, Alessandro Fisher, pianists Eugene Asti, Gamal Khamis, Mishka Momen Rushdie and the Busch Trio to present a varied programme of Clara Schumann’s songs and works for piano in the context of music by her contemporaries across six concerts.

According to The Telegraph, the festival “was a welcome chance to savour her compositions at length, and get a feel for their range and depth”. Supported by Classic FM as media partner, the Clara Schumann 200^th Anniversary Festival was also Top Pick of the Week in The Times, one of the Classical Highlights in The Guardian.

The Telegraph ★★★★
“the festival showed that Clara was a composer of greater range than she is normally given credit for. In all, this was an invaluable and moving tribute to a composer who was never less than masterly.”

Bachtrack ★★★★
"Clara Schumann's songs: an evening of pure delight"
"…endlessly lyrical melodies supported by beautifully crafted accompaniments"
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