Robert Schumann Memorial

In the heart of Zwickau, a city in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, stands a monument dedicated to one of the most influential composers of the Romantic era: Robert Schumann. The Robert Schumann Memorial (Robert-Schumann-Denkmal) is not just a tribute to his musical genius but also a testament to the city's deep connection to its native son. This bronze statue, perched on a granite pedestal, captures Schumann in a contemplative and dreamy pose, as if lost in the melodies that defined his life and career.

The Inception of the Memorial

The journey to erect the Robert Schumann Memorial began in 1885 with the formation of a committee in Zwickau dedicated to honoring the composer. The primary task was to raise funds, and despite initial reluctance from Schumann's widow, Clara, the committee successfully gathered 35,000 Reichsmarks within five years. This financial backing paved the way for a public contest to design a fitting monument, ultimately won by the young Leipzig sculptor Johannes Hartmann. His creation would become his magnum opus.

In 1901, the bronze casting of Hartmann's design was completed by the firm Pirner & Franz in Dresden. The city council of Zwickau chose the northeastern part of the main market square, opposite the Gewandhaus, as the site for the memorial. The statue was unveiled on June 8, 1901, during a music festival celebrating Schumann's birthday. The ceremony was attended by nearly 100 distinguished guests, over 100 musicians, several hundred singers, and three of Schumann's daughters along with some of his grandchildren and close friends. The event also featured a festal hymn composed by Carl Reinecke specifically for the occasion.

A Monument on the Move

Not long after its unveiling, discussions began about potentially relocating the memorial to a more serene setting. Nevertheless, the central location of the main market square always held strong appeal. During the Nazi era, in 1938, the monument was moved to the newly designed Robert-Schumann-Platz near the Kornmarkt. This site was previously known as Regierungsplatz and originally Klosterplatz. The relocation ceremony coincided with Schumann's birthday on June 8. However, the statue faced damage from bomb shrapnel during an American air raid on March 19, 1945, though it survived the attack.

Post-War and East German Era

In the aftermath of World War II, the memorial was moved again on November 13, 1947, this time to the Schwanenteich park. The re-inauguration took place on June 8, 1948, as part of a Robert Schumann Week celebration. The exact spot where the statue stood is still marked by a square in the pavement. During the GDR period, there were discussions about returning the statue to its original location in the main market square, but it wasn't until after German reunification that these plans came to fruition.

Modern-Day Tribute

In the early 1990s, the Robert Schumann Society of Zwickau actively campaigned for the statue's return to its original site. The city council approved the project in November 1992, and with the help of private donations, the statue was reinstalled in the main market square in June 1993, just in time for the city's 875th anniversary. The ceremony was part of the XI International Schumann Competition, and the statue was unveiled by Mayor Rainer Eichhorn.

Over the years, the Robert Schumann Memorial has been the subject of various commemorations. In 2001, the city celebrated both Schumann's legacy and the monument's centennial. Ute Bär, a scholar, has extensively studied the memorial, delivering lectures and publishing works on its history. The statue has even been featured in a Monopoly Zwickau edition and on commemorative medals for the city's 900th anniversary.

A Living Legacy

The Robert Schumann Memorial continues to be a focal point for cultural events in Zwickau. Since 2005, the annual Summer Swing at Schumann jazz program has been held at the statue, and in 2024, it will be complemented by the Summer Rock at Schumann event. The memorial has also undergone preservation efforts, including the installation of a protective architectural barrier in 2007 and a thorough restoration in 2018. This restoration, carried out by the firm Ostmann and Hempel, involved cleaning the statue and applying a corrosion-resistant, microcrystalline hot wax coating, transforming its patina to a uniform black shade.

Today, the Robert Schumann Memorial stands not only as a tribute to the composer's enduring influence but also as a symbol of Zwickau's rich cultural heritage. It invites visitors to pause and reflect on the life and works of Robert Schumann, whose music continues to inspire generations worldwide.