Johannes Brahms and husband and wife Robert and Clara Schumann were pianist-composers whose lives intimately intertwined in 19th-century Germany. Clara’s constant support of Robert throughout his career and mental illness often overshadows her own dazzling talent as a major composer. Brahms was a close friend to both, and comforted Clara after her husband’s death. This fascinating release explores these close connections with fresh and warmly recorded performances of Robert Schumann and Brahms’ First Symphonies, alongside Clara’s Piano Concerto. Pianist Gabriela Montero, superb in the concerto, offers her own musical thoughts with a set of beautiful improvisations inspired by Clara—a touching link to the present day.