


Schumann, Clara (1819-1896)
Prop concert program from MGM Hepburn Film Song of Love.
1947. 8.5" h x 11" w. In excellent condition with original string at spine. Front cover cut a bit close at top (likely originally this way) with very light stain in crest. Unsigned.The program purports to be for an undated performance of Clara Schumann's at the Royal Opera House in Dresden, at which she played her husband's Davidsbündlertänze and Piano Concerto in A minor with an Anton Sudhof conducting. The program contains two identical, bound-in copies of the works list. Clara is also billed as Mlle. Clara Wieck on the cover but as Clara Schumann on the inner pages.
Song of Love featured Katherine Hepburn as Clara Schumann, Paul Henried as Robert, and Robert Walker as Brahms. Hepburn trained with a pianist for weeks before filming began in the hopes that her playing would appear convincing in the movie. Arthur Rubinstein recorded the soundtrack and remarked that Hepburn played "almost" as well as he did.
It was also in Dresden that Clara premiered Robert's Piano Concerto on December 4, 1845, with the work's dedicatee, Ferdinand Hiller, conducting. It was well received and became a staple in Clara's repertoire thereafter. Writing about the concerto shortly after its premiere, she remarked: how rich in invention, how interesting from the beginning to the end, how fresh and what a beautiful coherent whole!. The work's first movement begins with the notes C-H-A-A, representing an Italian spelling (Chiara) of Clara's name.
