Over the course of 46 years, Louis Spohr composed ten symphonies, a period in which music transitioned from the works of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven to the Romanticism of Berlioz, Liszt, and Wagner. With chromatic harmony, experimental forms, and programmatic approaches, Spohr significantly shaped this era. His musical career began as a violinist in Braunschweig, he held various positions, and ended his career in Kassel in 1859.
Born in Braunschweig in 1784, Spohr became known as a German violinist and conductor. After concert tours throughout Europe, he settled permanently in Kassel, where he reached the pinnacle of his artistic career and was particularly celebrated in England. Although critical of Wagner, he nevertheless conducted performances of his works. He retired in 1857 and died in Kassel two years later.
Spohr evolved from a celebrated violinist to a versatile conductor and composer. His Third Symphony marked a step towards a freer, more romantic musical language, distinguished by its fusion of lyrical motifs and powerful elements. Under the baton of renowned conductors such as Mendelssohn and Wagner, his works became classics.
Throughout his career, Spohr transitioned from classical to romantic forms of expression. With his Sixth Symphony, he created a so-called "historical symphony" that blended various musical styles. The use of older music for inspiration was not widely understood in his time, but Spohr saw it as a way to demonstrate the expressive power of modernism. Through his individual interpretation of different eras, he became a role model for subsequent generations of composers.