In 1840, a proverbial Year of Song for a composer who had last written romantic songs when at school, Schumann was galvanised by his love for Clara Wieck and the prospect of his forthcoming marriage,... more

It was not until 1840 that, after a courtship strewn with difficulties, Robert Schumann was able to marry his beloved Clara Wieck. This was his 'Year of Song', and Joseph von Eichendorff's melancholy... more

Robert Schumann' literary interests influenced his choice of the poems he used for his songs, many of which were composed in a burst of activity during the 'Year of Song' 1840.

This fourth disc in the Naxos series of the complete Schumann Lieder focuses on settings of poems by Justinus Kerner, whose almost folk-song-like lyrics first captured Schumann' imagination as early... more

The impeccable ensemble singing of Thomas E. Bauer and Susanne Bernhard is the finest element in this beautiful recording. It makes one wish for the inclusion of all the part-songs from the... more

This fifth disc in the Naxos series of the complete Schumann Lieder features one of the key works of the entire 19th century song repertoire, Frauenliebe und -leben. Written during the summer of 1840... more