1844/1864 Moskau

Moskau, Blick auf den Kreml — Moscow, view of the Kremlin, steel engraving, first half of 19th century (StadtMuseum Bonn)

After the arrival of Clara and Robert Schumann in Moscow at the begin of April 1844, they had to notice that the actual concert season was already over. The concerts were not well attended, but the nobility was very complaisant. So the ladies and members of the highest nobility attended a matinee, which was totally against the customs. The couple benefited from this stay and focused on sightseeing and recreation.

20 years later, Clara Schumann gave six public concerts in St. Petersburg and performed among others Schumann’s piano quartet in E-flat major op. 47 and furthermore, in cooperation with Anton Rubinstein the Andante and Variations op. 46. In an additional concert of the Russian musical society and its establishing, Clara performed Schumann’s piano concert. The financial outcome of the concerts was again very satisfying.

Both journeys were very stressful for Clara: She reported in a letter to Brahms that the trip alone from St. Petersburg to Moscow took 20 hours and from St. Peterburg to Berlin, where she arrived in the middle of May, took 44 hours.

(Julia M. Nauhaus, translated by Katharina Ma)