PhD in the Arts: The Poets' garden. Inside the Mind of an Interpreter of Robert Schumann
In his doctoral research, pianist Marco Mantovani explores the resonance between Robert Schumann's music and poetic literature, and reflects on how the immersion into Schumann's poetic world can enrich the interpreter's imagination. By contextualizing his view on the interpreter’s role and on concepts such as intuition and the subconscious, the author underlines the significant influence of extra-musical stimuli—specifically literature and poetry—on his artistic process.
Taking inspiration from Schumann’s Dichtergarten für Musik, a collection of poetic quotes on music’s transcendental power, Mantovani presents his personal literary anthology. His recordings and the anthology are ultimately integrated into “The Poets’ Garden,” a 3D virtual space that offers a glimpse into the researcher’s internal artistic process. This metaphorical environment visualizes how literary fragments, evoked by music, resurface from the subconscious. Visitors are invited to explore a representation of the interpreter’s mind, strolling through and getting lost in its labyrinthine library.
Academic supervisor Matthias Heyman, artistic supervisor Jan Michiels
Concert at Flagey studio 1, Monday 23 March 2026 6:30 pm
Public Defense at KCB, Petit Sablon 5, 1000 Brussels. Small concert hall Tuesday 24 March 10:00- 12:30 followed by a reception