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Robert Schumann. German composer and music critic. He made the first comments on the topic of Chopin's music in an enthusiastic review of Variations in B flat major, op. 2, published in Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung on 7 December 1831. This review contained the famous sentence: 'Gentlemen hats off, [here is] a genius'. The very subtle and poetic interpretation of the piece was not recognised by Chopin, however the two composers did maintain friendly relations, especially during the 1830s. Schumann composed a musical portrait of Chopin in his Carnival and also dedicated Kreisleriana to him, the Polish composer in turn dedicated his Ballade in F major to Schumman. Schumann published numerous and invariably enthusiastic discussions of Chopin's works in his Neue Zeitschrift für Musik (among others: May 1836: Piano Concertos; December 1837: Etudes, op. 25; December 1838: Impromptu op. 29, Mazurkas op. 30, Scherzo op. 31; 1841: Sonata in B flat minor). These reviews – sometimes kept in the form of a dialogue – are written in a poetic language typical of the time and above all underline the novelty as well as individuality of Chopin's style. He often calls Chopin's pieces 'tremendous' or 'awe-inspiring' and occasionally compares them to works of other composers he valued highly such as Beethoven or Schubert. Critical aspects appear only as a matter of exception in Schumann's reviews (finale of Sonata in B flat minor). Valuable comments regarding Chopin’s creativity and works are also to be found in Schumann's journal as well as in his correspondences.

Dedicated manuscripts:

Ballade F major Op. 38; Stichvorlage copy (Adolf Gutmann)

Dedicated first editions:

Ballade F major Op. 38 (French, E. Troupenas & Co.)
Ballade F major Op. 38 (German, Breitkopf & Härtel)