BBC SO/Oramo

Schumann’s symphonic love letter to his beloved wife meets Magnus Lindberg’s powerful protest against totalitarianism.

Clara Schumann’s diary records ‘wild sounds’ emanating from her husband’s study on 31 May 1841. A new symphony was taking shape on Schumann’s desk, but what Clara didn’t know is that her husband was in the process of writing her into the score, which flows subtly and beautifully from a winding tune on strings and bassoon representing their love.

Having championed Schumann’s symphonies in mainland Europe and Scandinavia, Sakari Oramo conducts the Fourth here in a concert in which Anu Komsi sings Magnus Lindberg’s powerful statement in support of human rights and democracy, Accused.