Dvořákova Praha: A Tribute to the Schumanns & Gilgamesh

Our tribute to Robert and Clara Schumann culminates in a concert featuring works by both spouses. Clara Wieck-Schumann was a pioneering pianist—one of the first to perform from memory—and a gifted composer, balancing her artistry with raising eight children. Robert, an accomplished composer, writer, and pianist, damaged his hands through obsessive technical practice.

From the opening notes of Clara’s Piano Concerto, the deep connection between them is unmistakable—a bond unmatched in the 19th century. Robert’s Cello Concerto, no less moving and contemplative, seems to call out Clara’s name in the final movement’s intervals, according to cellist Mischa Maisky. This music unfolds like a personal film, with the cello’s lyrical voice and the orchestra’s rich palette painting vivid scenes.

Martinů’s The Epic of Gilgamesh explores timeless questions of origin, identity, and destiny. His beautiful and somewhat mysterious choral work, based on ancient texts, invites listeners to dive into the depths of the human soul while journeying back to the dawn of written history.