Search - Louis Spohr :: Spohr: Sonatas Concertantes, Opp. 113-115

Louis and Dorette: Three Sonatas and One Honeymoon

David V. Stratman | Albuquerque, NM | 05/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Spohr fell in love with his wife sometime in 1805 and knew nothing about the harp until he met harp virtuosa Dorette Scheidler. He wrote the three sonatas with and for Dorette and the album is a magnificent rendition of the purity and sweetness of the young lovers enamored of music and of each other. Spohr never wrote sonatas for violin and harp after his wife's death. (Dorette Scheidler became his wife on 2nd February 1806) In his autobiography (Vol.1, 1st edition, 1860, p. 102) Spohr wrote:"The happy couple also spend their honeymoon surrounded by music. So as to find out what was most appropriate for the instrument, I got down to learn playing the harp with great zeal. I used to compose music which was rich in modulations. Therefore I had to get myself well acquainted with the use of the pedals, so that I wouldn't note down anything that could not be played. Bearing in mind the technical mastership and confidence with which my wife played the instrument already then,this was not an easy task. I therefore gave way to my fantasy, and soon I was able to win new effects from this instrument. As the harp sounded best accompanied by the melodious tone of my violin." Sergiu Schwartz and Rachel Teitelman bring out the charming, affecting dialogue of the violin and harp with clarity, charm and gusto. I found the record delightful, and, I might add a pedesttrian note, at 5.95 it may be the best..classical music record this year."