"I cannot give a single concert at which I do not play one piece after the other in an agony of terror because my memory threatens to fail me. This fear torments me for days beforehand"
- Clara Schumann
About this Quote
Clara Schumann was a prominent pianist and author in the 19th century. This quote speaks to the tremendous pressure she felt to carry out completely in her performances. She was so scared of forgetting her pieces that it caused her enormous stress and anxiety and worry in the days leading up to her efficiencies. This worry of failure was so great that it triggered her to feel horror during her performances, as she was constantly fretted that her memory would fail her. This quote speaks with the immense pressure that Clara Schumann felt to carry out perfectly, and the worry that she felt when she was not able to do so. It likewise speaks to the immense dedication and dedication she had to her craft, as she was willing to put herself through such tremendous worry and stress and anxiety in order to offer her audience the best efficiency possible.
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