Composer

Louis Spohr

1784 — 1859

About

Albums

Spohr: Symphonies Nos. 7 & 9

Orchestra della Svizzera italiana, Howard Shelley

Spohr: Symphonies Nos. 8 & 10

Orchestra della Svizzera italiana, Howard Shelley

Spohr: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 6

Orchestra della Svizzera italiana, Howard Shelley

Spohr: Clarinet Concertos Nos. 3 & 4

Michael Collins, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Robin O'Neill

Spohr: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5

Orchestra della Svizzera italiana, Howard Shelley

Spohr: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2

Orchestra della Svizzera italiana, Howard Shelley

Paganini / Spohr: Violin Concertos incld. Listening Guide

Hilary Hahn, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Eije Oue

Spohr: Clarinet Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

Michael Collins, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Robin O'Neill

Appears On

Beethoven and Beyond

María Dueñas, Wiener Symphoniker, Manfred Honeck

Portraits - The Clarinet Album

Andreas Ottensamer, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Spohr & Onslow: Piano Sonatas & Other Works

Howard Shelley

Songs by Schubert's Friends & Contemporaries

Graham Johnson

Beethoven, Meyerbeer & Spohr: Lieder

Anne Sofie von Otter, Melvyn Tan

Mysliveček, Viotti & Spohr: Violin Concertos

Elizabeth Wallfisch, The Brandenburg Consort, Roy Goodman

The Clarinet in Concert, Vol. 2: Spohr, Rietz, Solère & Heinze

Thea King, English Chamber Orchestra

Echoes of a Waterfall: Romantic Harp Music of the 19th Century, Vol. 1

Susan Drake

About

Louis Spohr

Louis Spohr ( 5 April 1784 – 22 October 1859), baptized Ludewig Spohr, later often in the modern German form of the name Ludwig, was a German composer, violinist and conductor. Highly regarded during his lifetime, Spohr composed ten symphonies, ten operas, eighteen violin concerti, four clarinet concerti, four oratorios, and various works for small ensemble, chamber music, and art songs. Spohr invented the violin chinrest and the orchestral rehearsal mark. He fell into obscurity following his death, when his music was rarely heard.

Fascinating Works by Louis Spohr: Beethoven and Beyond

Louis Spohr, born on 5th April 1784 as Ludewig Spohr and often referred to as Ludwig in modern German, was a well-regarded composer, violinist, and conductor. He played a significant role bridging the Classical and early Romantic periods. In his lifetime, Spohr composed ten operas, ten symphonies, and eighteen violin concerti. Apart from these, he also invented the violin chinrest and the orchestral rehearsal mark. Despite his successes during his lifetime, his composed works for small ensemble, chamber music, and art songs fell into obscurity after he passed away on 22nd October 1859. His music was rarely heard, but his musical compositions remain notable and continue to be studied with interest.

Notable Records of Louis Spohr’s Works

Portraits - The Clarinet Album (María Dueñas, Wiener Symphoniker, Manfred Honeck)

This album highlights Spohr's major contributions to the clarinet repertoire, especially his four clarinet concertos, which were written for famed clarinetist Simon Hermstedt and remain among the most important works for the instrument from the 19th century.

Spohr & Onslow: Piano Sonatas & Other Works (Andreas Ottensamer, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra)

This record showcases Spohr’s chamber music and piano works, including sonatas that display Romantic charm and technical mastery.

Spohr: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 6, 4 & 5, 7 & 9, 8 & 10 (Orchestra della Svizzera italiana, Howard Shelley)

Spohr wrote ten symphonies, with Symphony No. 4 ("Die Weihe der Töne" – "The Consecration of Sound") considered his most successful during the 19th century. These symphonies illustrate his lyrical style, orchestral color, and distinctive Romantic voice.

Spohr: Clarinet Concertos Nos. 3 & 4 (Michael Collins, Swedish Chamber Orchestra)

These concertos epitomize Spohr’s innovative writing for wind instruments and are noted for their melodic inventiveness and idiomatic use of the clarinet.

STAGE+ offers an immersive experience into the piano sonatas, symphonies, clarinet concertos, and other works by Louis Spohr. Their renditions by renowned orchestras provide an intriguing insight into the maestro’s craftsmanship and unique style.

Spohr’s Musical Significance

Spohr was prodigiously versatile: his output includes ten symphonies, ten operas, eighteen violin concertos, four clarinet concertos, four oratorios, and a large volume of chamber music and lieder. His innovations were significant, and he was among the first to use a baton as a conductor. Spohr was director of the Frankfurt Opera and court conductor at Kassel. Despite his dislike for the late works of Beethoven and the works of Carl Maria von Weber, he respected Wagner, and he met Beethoven personally.