Clara Schumann

Clara Schumann (; née Clara Josephine Wieck; 13 September 1819 – 20 May 1896) was a German musician and composer and is regarded as one of the most distinguished pianists and composers of the Romantic era. She exerted her influence over a 61-year concert career, changing the format and repertoire of the piano recital and composed a body of work including piano concertos, chamber works and choral pieces. She was married to composer Robert Schumann, and together they encouraged and maintained a close relationship with Johannes Brahms. She was the first to perform publicly any work by Brahms, notably the Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel. She was also an influential piano educator at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt.