Katherine Hepburn played Clara Wieck? Who knew?

In this week's installment of Mid-Week Musicology, we visit a mid-century romanticization of the lives and relationships of Robert Schumann (Paul Henreid), his wife Clara Wieck (Katherine Hepburn), and their young and talented friend Johannes Brahms (Robert Walker).

MGM's Song of Love (1947), directed by Clarence Brown, walks us through Clara's career as a prodigal concert pianist, her overbearing stage-father barking directions over her shoulder in performance, his resistance to the love of the struggling composition student and the prized Wunderkind who could easily fetch a man with a hefty fortune. Robert and Clara's household, littered with children interrupting Robert's lessons until a knock on the door changes everything.

I won't tell you more.

If you go in knowing you're watching a 1947 Hollywood dramatization of an already dramatic story, I think you'll enjoy it. A few contemporary characters make appearances; most notable is a pointed exchange between Franz Liszt and Clara Schumann over what is truly valuable in music. As a staunch member of the Brahms camp as far as the War of the Romantics goes, I may have said "Yeah, girl!" at my monitor in response.

Fun facts:

Katherine Hepburn took piano lessons just for this role. She does pretty well, but I don't think she studied too long... Just don't watch anyone's hands and you'll be fine.

In case you were wondering, the legendary Arthur Rubinstein was responsible for all of the piano playing you hear.

 

 

Stay tuned to Classic 107 for more Mid-week Musicology; a new edition every Wednesday!