Romances & Quartets - a sequence of words and music

A musical and poetic exchange between Clara and Robert Schumann, alongside TS Eliot's response to the late quartets of Beethoven

There has been much speculation regarding a supposed love-triangle involving Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms. This sequence of poetry and music takes the narrative to an earlier, happier age, when Robert and Clara finally overcame the barriers put up by Clara’s father in an attempt to thwart the marriage intentions of the young lovers.

"There is a sort of heavenly, or at least more than human gaiety, about some of [Beethoven’s] later things… I should like to get something of that into verse before I die." T S Eliot

Programme

• ROBERT SCHUMANN: 3 Romances Op.94 for oboe and piano
• ROBERT SCHUMANN: Märchenbilder Op.113 for viola and piano
• CLARA SCHUMANN: 3 Romances Op.22 for violin and piano
• T S ELIOT: Burnt Norton from 'The Four Quartets' (poetry reading)
• BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in A minor Op.132