In this playlist, musicians imagine what it might be like to take a step on that bright glowing ball in the sky. A. Dagli Orti/De Agostini via Getty Images hide caption
Robert Schumann Robert Schumann's entire being was music, informed by dream and fantasy. He was music's quintessential Romantic, always ardent, always striving for the ideal.
Robert Schumann
Jeremy Denk's c.1300-c.2000 comes out Feb. 8 on Nonesuch. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Daniil Trifonov performs a Tiny Desk concert on Nov. 13, 2017 at NPR Headquarters in Washington, D.C. (Jenna Sterner/NPR) Jenna Sterner/NPR/NPR hide caption
Tiny Desk Concert with Joshua Bell and Jeremy Denk. Bob Boilen/NPR hide caption
Robert Schumann wrote his Violin Concerto in 1853. Josef Kriehuber/Wikimedia Commons hide caption
Pianist Jonathan Biss and members of the Elias String Quartet brought their Schumann: Under the Influence program to Carnegie Hall. Melanie Burford/for NPR hide caption
Carnegie Hall Live: Jonathan Biss And The Elias String Quartet
Robert Schumann may have been the first to infuse a yearning for music of the past in his own compositions. Joseph Kriehuber/Wikimedia Commons hide caption
Hear Jonathan Biss Play Schumann In The Studio
Communication was not a strong suit for Robert and Clara Schumann. But music surely was. Lebrecht Music/Corbis hide caption
Jonathan Biss Plays Schumann
Composer Robert Schumann has his share of critics. Pianist Jonathan Biss is out to prove them wrong. Michael Nicholson/Corbis hide caption
Jonathan Biss Plays Schumann
Many aspects of composer Robert Schumann's life and music have remained largely misunderstood. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption
Schumann: Tocatta, Op. 7 (Sviatoslav Richter)
Glenn Gould would have turned 80 years old on Sept. 25. His legacy includes much more than the music of J.S. Bach. Don Hunstein/Sony Classical hide caption
Up close and very personal: young listeners get a taste of classical music at New York's Baby Got Bach. Ali Winberry/courtesy of Baby Got Bach hide caption
Piano Quintet in E-Flat: III. Scherzo (Martha Argerich)
Piano Trio In D Minor: IV. Mit Feuer (Alfred Cortot, piano; Jacques Thibaud, violin; Pablo Casals, cello; rec. 1928)
Some Schumann fans are wondering why the composer didn't get as big a celebration as Chopin this year. iStock hide caption
David Bowie as Thin White Duke, one of his many characters. Michael Putland/Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption
Robert Schumann's Kinderszenen depicts the world through the eyes of a child. Getty hide caption
Hear Murray Perahia Play Schumann
Robert Schumann's music evokes the image of a child's dreams. iStock hide caption