I, Clara tells the extraordinary life story of Clara Schumann in her own words. It follows two other Composer Portraits, created by Lucy Parham, of Debussy and Rachmaninoff, which were performed at the Barnes Music Festival in previous years. The narrative, drawn from letters and diaries, is interspersed with live performances of her works, and of music by Robert Schumann, Brahms, Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn, Fanny Mendelssohn and Chopin.

Clara Schumann was a truly exceptional woman, not just a devoted wife to the composer Robert Schumann, but a ground-breaking musician in her own right. Over a period of 60 years she gave over 1,500 concerts and determined the format of the kind of piano recital that is familiar to us today.

Lucy Parham is one of Britain’s finest pianists and has performed throughout the world with leading orchestras. She is also well-known as a broadcaster on BBC Radios 3 and 4 and at the Proms.

Patricia Hodge is a renowned British Actress well known for many film and theatre performances including most recently Private Lives on the west-end stage. She has been awarded the OBE for services to drama and lives in Barnes.

“Parham gives us a beautifully crafted tribute to the composer in both words and music … a fitting tribute to an extraordinary woman. Be prepared to shed a tear” – Pianist Magazine *****5 stars

PERFORMERS
Lucy Parham, Piano
Patricia Hodge, Narrator

Concert patrons: Karen Goldie-Morrison and Michael Whalley

Photo Credit: Sven Arnstein