A soirée musicale: Clara Schumann’s Opus 6, Fanny Mendelssohn, and Frédéric Chopin 

In 1836, Clara Wieck-Schumann (1819–1896) published her Soirées musicales Op. 6. This set of six pieces is comprised of a toccatina, nocturne, ballade, polonaise, and two mazurkas — genres that were popularized and cultivated during the time, particularly in salons. In this recital, Cheryl Tan situates Schumann’s compositions within her wider cultural and pianistic milieu, pairing them with works by two composers she was closely acquainted with, and mutually inspired by: Fanny Mendelssohn (1805–1847) and Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849). Mendelssohn offers us alternate glimpses into the genres of the Nocturne and Toccata; Chopin, the Mazurka and Ballade.