Ryan Reilly: Chopin, Liszt and Schumann

Speaker: pianist Ryan Reilly

Topic: Chopin, Liszt and Schumann: The Romantics

This lecture will explore the intertwined lives and groundbreaking works of Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt and Robert Schumann, three of the greatest and most influential composers of the Romantic era. Through their ingenuity, they not only expanded the expressive and technical capacities of the piano but also redefined its role as a vehicle for personal and poetic expression. In this lecture, we will examine how these composers shaped the Romantic musical landscape, inspired one another, and left a lasting legacy that continues to be of paramount importance to pianists today. Additionally, through discussion and presentation of musical examples, the lecture will draw the curtain back and provide a glimpse into the intensely personal worlds of these musicians, inviting a more thorough understanding of their compositional oeuvre.