Search - Louis Spohr, Ensemble Villa Musica :: Spohr: Chamber Music

Four chamber works of Spohr given great performances in grea

Robert Coulter | Delaware, USA | 12/21/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although he is virtually unknown to general audiences nowadays, Louis (or Ludwig) Spohr holds a significant place in the history of music. As one of the leading violinists of his day, he played a seminal role in the development of modern playing methods (he invented the chinrest and wrote an influential treatise on violin playing). He was also the first major conductor to use a baton.



As a composer, Spohr was quite prolific, producing a substantial and varied oeuvre which includes 11 operas, 10 symphonies (the last completed after his death), 15 violin concertos, at least 34 string quartets (possibly 36), and a whole bunch of other chamber music. There was a time when he was considered by many musicians to be a greater composer than Beethoven, who he knew well and worked with.



In this 2 cd release (the Amazon product details state there is only one disk but you don't need to buy the release to work out that is wrong -- even the samples here on Amazon make it plain there are two!) we get 4 lovely examples of Spohr's chamber style.



The first disk starts with a beautiful quintet for piano and wind that Spohr wrote for his wife, who had been a famous harpist before failing health had forced her to stop. She had also been an excellent pianist when younger, so Spohr looked to rehabilitate her career through piano -- his plan was a success on account of this piece. You will understand why when you hear it. At the time of composition, there were already two famous quintets for piano and wind in existence -- one each by Mozart and Beethoven (for a recording of both of these truly great works, I strongly recommend the fantastic, historical recording involving Gieseking and Brain). As opposed to Mozart and Beethoven, Spohr chose to use flute in place of oboe, giving a brighter sound. The piano part is undeniably brilliant, introducing several of the lovely themes that drive the work (particularly the gorgeous tune that graces the opening of the finale). However, it never dominates the wind quartet as Spohr ingeniously integrates the five instruments into a clear partnership.



The other work on disk 1 is a sextet for 2 each of violin, viola and cello; a format introduced by Boccherini but subsequently forgotten until Spohr revived it. The optimistic mood which infuses the work is ascribed, by Spohr himself, to the air of expectancy following the German revolution of 1848. Rhythmically driven, the piece contains a stream of beautiful themes which stick in the mind. It is a delectable work.



Disk 2 is, in fact, precisely an earlier release by Ensemble Villa Musica, consisting of the Op.147 Septet and a piano quintet. As with the first disk, we find ourselves immersed in beautiful music clearly written by a master's hand. The septet has a slightly subdued, almost sorrowful air about it; it is easily the most subdued of the four works in this release. As the work proceeds, however, Spohr cleverly changes from a chamber style to a more orchestral sound by more regularly clustering the instruments. Simultaneously, the work seems to gain energy, a rhythmic vitality that leads to a somewhat forceful finale. The work is a great example of Spohr's expertise at handling the varied forces at his disposal. In the piano quintet, the piano is less pronounced than in the quintet for piano and wind from the first disk. At times, there is a delightful interplay between the piano and the first violin; the wistful ending to the reprise of the scherzo and the elegant start to the proceeding adagio being two, quite distinct examples. Again, Spohr gives us beautiful themes which he distributes among the 5 instruments in inventive and attractive ways, leading to an excellent and satisfying finish to the disk.



Ensemble Villa Musica is a chamber group consisting, in the main, of principal players from some of Germany's major orchestras. On this release, they give beautiful renderings of these chamber works of Spohr in gorgeous sound. If you enjoy finely crafted chamber music full of luscious themes, then this release is for you."