Warning: minor spoiler of sorts
"Spring Symphony" is the story of Robert Schumann and Clara Wieck. Both were music entities. Robert Schumann turns out to have been a second tier composer, if that, never rising to the heights of a Beethoven or Mozart. In contrast, Clara Wieck was a master technician in the playing of the piano, a composer (probably not at Schumann's level), and was a child prodigy. Clara is a young girl of eight or nine(?) when she first encounters Schumann who is a good ten years plus older than her. Clara's father is her own personal piano teacher who also undertakes the task of training a promising Schumann in the ways of the piano. Very early on, Schumann develops problems with one of his hands that will restrict his ability to ever rise to the level of a successful piano concert player. Fortunately, Schumann has the makings of a composer of sorts. Clara is enchanted by the older Schumann's compositions and makes it a point to play them while on tour with her father as constant companion and chaperon. As Clara grows she eventually morphs into Nastassja Kinski and the stage is set for a struggle between her father and Schumann for her love, loyalty, and attention. Schumann wants to marry her while her father considers him to be a third rate musician who wants to capitalize on Clara's piano skills to support him. Of course, her father is making a nice living with Clara's performances throughout Europe. Clara is underage and needs her father's permission to marry Schumann. This culminates in an actual lawsuit to free her from her father. The movie ends with their marriage and Schumann's first symphony, "Spring Symphony." The movie is historically accurate as far as it goes.
"Spring Symphony" was a movie for Nastassja Kinski that was in between "Cat People" and "Exposed" - at least in terms of its release date. With Nastassja in long hair, it is possible that "Spring Symphony" was filmed either before or after "Cat People." The real life Clara Wieck was an attractive woman so that Nastassja in her role was not out of line. The "Spring Symphony" DVD is in German with English subtitles. The film is well paced and never seems to drag. Nastassja appears to be more than competent at the keyboard and must have spent many hours practicing. Perhaps this film is her tribute to Ingrid Bergman in "Intermezzo."
"Spring Symphony" is the story of Robert Schumann and Clara Wieck. Both were music entities. Robert Schumann turns out to have been a second tier composer, if that, never rising to the heights of a Beethoven or Mozart. In contrast, Clara Wieck was a master technician in the playing of the piano, a composer (probably not at Schumann's level), and was a child prodigy. Clara is a young girl of eight or nine(?) when she first encounters Schumann who is a good ten years plus older than her. Clara's father is her own personal piano teacher who also undertakes the task of training a promising Schumann in the ways of the piano. Very early on, Schumann develops problems with one of his hands that will restrict his ability to ever rise to the level of a successful piano concert player. Fortunately, Schumann has the makings of a composer of sorts. Clara is enchanted by the older Schumann's compositions and makes it a point to play them while on tour with her father as constant companion and chaperon. As Clara grows she eventually morphs into Nastassja Kinski and the stage is set for a struggle between her father and Schumann for her love, loyalty, and attention. Schumann wants to marry her while her father considers him to be a third rate musician who wants to capitalize on Clara's piano skills to support him. Of course, her father is making a nice living with Clara's performances throughout Europe. Clara is underage and needs her father's permission to marry Schumann. This culminates in an actual lawsuit to free her from her father. The movie ends with their marriage and Schumann's first symphony, "Spring Symphony." The movie is historically accurate as far as it goes.
"Spring Symphony" was a movie for Nastassja Kinski that was in between "Cat People" and "Exposed" - at least in terms of its release date. With Nastassja in long hair, it is possible that "Spring Symphony" was filmed either before or after "Cat People." The real life Clara Wieck was an attractive woman so that Nastassja in her role was not out of line. The "Spring Symphony" DVD is in German with English subtitles. The film is well paced and never seems to drag. Nastassja appears to be more than competent at the keyboard and must have spent many hours practicing. Perhaps this film is her tribute to Ingrid Bergman in "Intermezzo."