born on January 27, 1850 in Vienna, Austrian Empire
died on December 23, 1930 in Interlaken, Switzerland
Austrian singer
175th birthday on January 27, 2025
95th anniversary of her death on December 23, 2025
Biography
“My dear Genchen, I feel physical pain just thinking about the many miles between us… If only one could fly! If I could fly, you would see me beside you today… Today it is eight days since you left, so many more weeks must pass before I have you again… I have drunk my fill of your kisses and am thirsty, and this thirst now burns deep in my soul. The fire will not go out until your lips touch me.”
Few letters like this from 19th century have been preserved. Written by a woman to a woman, the lines shatter the myth that the close friendships of women in those times were always “pure,” never erotic. The soprano Marie Fillunger, who penned these lines, studied with the famous singer Mathilde Marchesi de Castrone at the Vienna Conservatory, where she then came into contact with Johannes Brahms, who recommended that she attend the newly founded Berlin Music Academy. While still a student in Berlin, she began performing in concerts at home and abroad. It was at the conservatory that Marie met and fell in love with a student of piano – Eugenie Schumann, one of the daughters of Clara and Robert Schumann. Her love was reciprocated, and the two women remained a couple for 55 years, even through difficult times.
Eugenie called her “Fillu” to avoid confusion with her sister Marie. When Clara Schumann moved to Frankfurt, Fillu moved in with them and occupied the room next to Eugenie’s. Marie was apparently jealous of the liaison and after a conflict between sister and lover in 1889, Fillu moved to England without Eugenie in order to try her luck there. She was immediately successful, and had singing engagements in numerous cities in Great Britain. Eugenie initially tried to remain with her mother and sister in Frankfurt, but after becoming seriously ill in 1892 she in the end decided to join her beloved in England.
Fillu's concert tours with the Hallé couple (piano/cello) took her as far as Australia and South Africa. From 1904 to 1912 she held a professorship at the Royal Manchester College of Music. The couple left England during the First World War and spent the rest of their lives in Interlaken, Switzerland, where Marie had already set up house. Fillu and Eugenie rented an apartment, while Marie lived in her own chalet – at a distance. The gravestone in the small, picturesque cemetery in Wilderswil near Interlaken reads: “Here rests, between sister and friend, Eugenie Schumann.” Below that is a small stone with the inscription “Marie Fillunger.” You have to admire Eugenie for her courage, even though she left out Fillu's life data on the gravestone.
The gravestone was restored in 1999 at the suggestion of two music-loving friends and Fillu’s data was added.
(Text from 1999, translated with DeepL.com; edited by Ramona Fararo, 2024.
Please consult the German version for additional information, pictures, sources, videos, and bibliography.)
Quotes
I parted from Fillu this summer, I didn't want to leave Mama again right away… For three or four years we had never been apart for more than three weeks… (Eugenie Schumann, July 1881).
Fillu is just like always, kind and good to me (she nursed me lovingly), always cheerful, witty and funny, but (this is) unfortunately often unrecognized by others… she saves her unfailing sense of humor for less pleasant times… she studies hard, waters the garden and otherwise makes herself useful. (Eugenie Schumann, 1884/5)
I am always so busy that I don't have time to think about myself, and that is fortunate, because despite all the satisfaction I get from Mama's love, from Marie's sisterly affection and from the fulfillment of my duties, I have missed horribly what my soul needs since I parted from Fillu. You can certainly sympathize with me; you always had so much understanding and sympathy for my friendship with her. However, her career has developed so well since our separation that it is a small consolation for me. (Eugenie Schumann to a friend, after the temporary separation from Fillu in 1891)
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