#11 - The Ghosts of Robert Schumann

This episode explores "Robert Schumann's Ghosts" and the theme between creativity and mental illness which was present throughout Schumann's life and in particular in his last years. During the hour we will listen to Schumann's last work for the piano, the "Geistervariationen'', as well as Brahms' Variations on a Theme by Schumann op. 23, which uses the same "ghost theme" that Schumann recalls being dictated, during sleep, by a choir of ghosts. Not only that, we will also listen to a very new piece by British Composer Michael Finnissy, titled "RS-Geistervariationen" (2021), which takes inspiration from both Schumann and Brahms and adds some very unusual harmonies representing Schumann's confused state of mind. It will be a wonderful voyage across Schumann's mind and through his friendship with Brahms and with a later tribute by Michael Finnissy, all linked by the "ghost theme". Don't miss it!