On This Day!

[Joy]

On September 12, 1840 -- Robert Schumann marries Clara Wieck, the daughter of his teacher Friedrich Wieck, who vehemently opposed the marriage.

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'Truth and beauty joined'

[spaceray]

This was,by all accounts, a good marriage before Robert's illness threw a wrench into the works.Clara was devoted to two things ,music and Robert Schumann .After he died she earned her living as a performer .
Some said that she devoted too much time to her music at the expense of her children. She was often away from home at critical times for the family.

[Chaszz]

Originally posted by Joy:
On September 12, 1840 -- Robert Schumann marries Clara Wieck, the daughter of his teacher Friedrich Wieck, who vehemently opposed the marriage.

Does anyone know why the father opposed the marriage so strongly?

[Peter]

Originally posted by Chaszz:
Does anyone know why the father opposed the marriage so strongly?

Because he had invested a great deal of time and effort turning Clara into one of the greatest pianists of her generation and had no desire to see her throw her career away by marrying a penniless untalented composer (as he saw it).

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'Man know thyself'

[spaceray]

Originally posted by Peter:
Because he had invested a great deal of time and effort turning Clara into one of the greatest pianists of her generation...

In Wieck's single minded plan he also drove Clara's mother from the home and alienated his sons who wouldn't comply to become the wunderkind he strived to create.Only Clara was putty in his hands. Before Robert,Wieck was Clara's only concern.Pleasing him meant everything to her.

Wieck was a great teacher,who was disgusted with Robert(who was his student) for "taking advantage" of Clara's inocence.