ROBERT SCHUMANN - Symphony #3, "Rhenish" SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

Robert Schumann was a sensitive, creative, unstable man who was madly in love with life, music and his wife Clara.  Alas, life, music critics, and his father-in-law didn't like him too much and if his wife hadn't been the best pianist in the world at the time he wouldn't have achieved what little acclaim he did before dying in a mental institution.  He experienced life far more intensely than most people and transmuted those feelings directly into music often in a kind of trance where he channeled many of music's most beautiful melodies. His four symphonies are a good place to start and number 3 the Rhenish is (I think) the best. If you like that then try #1, The Spring, and then the others. There are dozens of recordings of his symphonies but this one on EMI with Sawallish conducting is one of the best.

Schumann's and his wife Clara had a great love affair. They also semi-discovered Brahms and made him famous. The story of the life of the three and the unresolved questions about Brahms life long love of Clara is explained in this video