In 2014, Y and I embarked on a river cruise along the River Elbe in Germany, visiting several cities in former East Germany. The name of the boat we took was "Schumann." Initially, I presumed it was named after the romantic-era German composer Robert Schumann. However, it wasn't until I found the biography Clara Schumann: the Artist and the Woman in the ship's library that I learned it was actually named after Clara Schumann. During the course of the journey, I found myself engrossed in the ship's library, flipping through this thick biography of over 300 pages. It's hard to imagine that over a century ago, during what we often perceive as a conservative and insular era, an extraordinary like Clara Schumann existed. She was not only a prodigious musical talent but also a figure of immense courage, resilience, innovative entrepreneurship, and an action-oriented mindset. Later I came across the film Beloved Clara, where Clara was depicted as a remarkable solo pianist, but her individuality was subsumed in the narrow context of the love triangle involving Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms. Similarly, concerts related to Clara Schumann—and their program notes—often circled around these themes, constraining her to the stereotype of a "beloved muse". This fleeting portrayal contrasted starkly with my earlier encounter with her through the biography, which documented her distinctive individuality and her astute management of a long and illustrious musical career. Therefore, I felt strongly that it would be a great loss if her fascinating personality remained confined to such a narrow storyline. In 2018, we attempted to introduce a concept known as "melodrama" (melding melody with drama) in our newly built Ensemble Hall. At that time, we aimed to adopt a concert program by Music Director Wang Pei-yao, who crafted a performance interwoven with the correspondence of the Schumanns as a thematic thread. However, this initiative remained in its the embryonic stage due to certain performance-related constraints. In 2022, the ideas resurfaced serendipitously. During one of Pei-yao's trips back to New York, she made a special visit to the Morgan Library to delve into historical materials. As she shared her findings with some former colleagues from the Metropolitan Opera, she realized that even many musicians were unaware of certain crucial historical contexts that had influenced the development of [Schumann's?] music. After several discussions, we felt it was worth the effort to delve deeper and unravel the untold stories, allowing these lesser-known aspects of people and events to be brought to life through music. Why, more than a century later, is the story of a female musician and those closely intertwined with her life still worth telling and performing? Over the past three years, the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a severe blow to the performing arts sector. Even as we emerge from the pandemic, numerous challenges persist and questions linger unanswered. If we turn back the clock, looking through a historical lenses, can Clara's life push us to reflect further and offer possible solutions for us? Clara's life, as a pianist, composer, wife to Robert Schumann, advocate for his works, mother of eight children, and at times, a single mother, can be seen as a multifaceted journey. Her six-decade-long performing career remains an extraordinary feat by today's standards, let alone during the nineteenth century when male dominance held sway. Her accomplishments not only transcended traditional gender confines but also elevated the stature and breadth of musicianship. Beyond the stage, genius artists such as Robert & Clara were, in essence, ordinary individuals who grappled with life's necessities and experienced a spectrum of joys and sorrows. Striking a balance between the ethereal realm of musical creation and interpretation and the mundane demands of reality posed a perennial challenge for both the Schumanns, individually as artists and collectively as a couple. Their exchange of musical ideas, as well as the more than 12,000 pages of marriage diaries they wrote, chronicling their journey from tempestuous courtship to married life, lay bare a profoundly moving connection and understanding. Yet, they are equally fraught with heart-rending conflicts and contradictions. The renowned scholar Nancy Reich initially summarized Clara's life as a combination of "triumph and tragedy" when she published the first edition of Clara's biography mentioned above. However, in subsequent editions, after additional research and revisions, Professor Reich adjusted her conclusions. She believed that a more accurate description of Clara's life should be "great talent, struggle, and survival." Over a century ago, Clara shattered societal barriers with her talent and resilience. Through a deep exploration of her story, we discover not just an inspiration for women but also a testament to the power of an individual, who, in the face of life's challenges, relied on her passion (music), bravely turned obstacles into opportunities, forged new paths, and provided inspiration for future generations. Jennifer Chen Sep 13, 2023 (coincidently at the date of Clara’s 205 birthday…..) in Douliu