caption death_date death_place children birth_place nationality name birth_date spouse image article_title birth_name occupation death_cause
portrait by franz von lenbach , 1878 20 may 1896 frankfurt , german empire eight leipzig german clara schumann 13 september 1819 robert schumann 1840 1856 died clara schumann 1878.jpg clara schumann
 clara josephine wieck pianist , composer stroke
clara schumann

clara schumann -lrb- `` née '' clara josephine wieck ; 13 september 1819 -- 20 may 1896 -rrb- was a german musician and composer , considered one of the most distinguished pianists of the romantic era .
she exerted her influence over a 61-year concert career , changing the format and repertoire of the piano recital and the tastes of the listening public .
her husband was the composer robert schumann .
together they encouraged johannes brahms .
she was the first to perform publicly any work by brahms .
she later premiered some other pieces by brahms , notably the `` variations and fugue on a theme by handel '' .
