Louis Spohr
Performer: Moscow Philharmonic Concertino String Quartet
New Budapest String Quartet
Label: Marcopolo
Released: February 24, 2012
For fans of Louis Spohr, his complete string quartet recording will be once again awaken by the latest installment of Louis Spohr Complete String Quartet Vol.15. The quartets in charge now are the Moscow Philharmonic Concertino String Quartet and New Budapest String Quartet.
In this volume will be recorded are String Quartet No. 19 in A major, Op. 68 and String Quartet No. 22 in D minor, Op. 74, No. 3. String Quartet No.19 is part of the Quatuor Brilliant No.4. Here the review from Naxos site:
His QuartetNo 19 is the fourth of his Quatuors brillants, chamber concertos designed to allow the first violinist, Spohr himself, to flaunt his virtuoso credentials. He ensures, however, that flourish is balanced by expressive themes and songful warmth. Quartet No 22 is one of his greatest compositions, notable not only for its broad, sweeping, even sensual themes tinged with pathos, but for the masterful use of counterpoint and virtuoso elements within a magnificently unified whole.
Having write about Louis Spohr's String Quartets earlier, it is excited to see there is a final volume on his works. I just browse that the Vol.14 of the works will be released soon, January 25, 2011.
Read the teasers : This is the 14th volume in Marco Polo’s ongoing survey of the string quartets of Spohr, one of the greatest violinists of his day.
Tracks:
1. String Quartet No. 31 in A major, Op. 132: I. Allegro vivace 7:22
2. String Quartet No. 31 in A major, Op. 132: II. Adagio 6:41
3. String Quartet No. 31 in A major, Op. 132: III. Scherzo: Vivace 6:50
4. String Quartet No. 31 in A major, Op. 132: IV. Finale: Allegro molto 7:50
5. String Quartet No. 36 in G minor, Op. 157: I. Allegro 7:43
6. String Quartet No. 36 in G minor, Op. 157: II. Larghetto 5:15
7. String Quartet No. 36 in G minor, Op. 157: III. Menuetto 4:03
8. String Quartet No. 36 in G minor, Op. 157: IV. Finale: Allegro molto 3:50
9. Potpourri No. 4 in B major, Op. 24 10:16
Louis Spohr composed string quartets throughout his career, the String Quartet No. 36 being his last completed large-scale work, composed in 1857 and modelled on those of Haydn and Mozart. As a result of depression during his later years, Spohr embargoed its performance, but as this recording shows it is a work of consummate craftsmanship. His String Quartet No. 31 was composed eleven years earlier and found favour with Mendelssohn and Wagner for its tightly woven counterpoint and sophisticated character. The earliest piece here, the Potpourri No. 4, is a short virtuoso display piece that draws on favourite opera arias by his idol Mozart.
Louis Spohr is yet another neglected composer from late Classical era. He was a violinist and have a serious output set of Violin Concertos. Clarinet lovers will also reminded to his contribution for the instrument, in a fine Clarinet Concerto. Spohr wrote 36 string quartets. They are in Mannheim styles and as early as published in 1806/7 in a set of two string quartets Op.4
List of Louis Spohr's string quartets:
Two String Quartets Op.4 (1807)
String Quartet No.1 in C Major
String Quartet No.2 in G minor
Op.11 (1806)
String Quartet No.3 in D minor 'Quatuor Brillant'
Op.15
String Quartet
No.4 in E flat Major
String Quartet No.5 in D Major
Op.27 (1812)
String Quartet
No.6 in G minor 'Grand Quartet'
Op.29 (1813)
String Quartet No.7 in E flat Major
String Quartet No.8 in C Major
String Quartet No.9 in F minor
String Quartet No.10 - missing information
Op.43 (1818)
String Quartet
No. 11 in E Major 'Quartet Brillant'
Op.45
String Quartet No.12 in C Major
String Quartet
No.13 in E minor
String Quartet No.14 in F minor
Op.58
String Quartet
No.15 in E flat Major
String Quartet
No.16 in A minor
String Quartet No.17 in G Major
Op.61 (1825)
String Quartet No.18 in B minor 'Quartet Brilliant'
Op.68
String Quartet No.19 in A Major 'Quartet Brilliant'
Op.74
String Quartet
No.20 in A minor
String Quartet No.21 in B flat Major
String Quartet
No.22 in D minor
Op.82
String Quartet No.23
String Quartet
No.24 in G Major
String Quartet
No.25 in A minor
String Quartet No.26
Op.84
String Quartet No.27 in D minor
String Quartet No.28 in A Major
String Quartet No.29 in B minor
Op. 93
String Quartet No.30 in A Major 'Quartet Brilliant'
Op.132
String Quartet No.31 in A major
Op.141 (February 1849)
String Quartet No.32 in C major
Op.152 (June-July 1855)
String Quartet No.34 in E flat Major
String Quartet No.35 in E flat Major
Op.157
String Quartet No.36 in G minor
But his string quartets, so far has only one set of recording. The New Budapest String Quartet recorded 12 CD, published by Naxos :
The influence both of the Viennese classics and of virtuoso violin music is clearly evident in Spohr's own works for string quartet. The virtuoso tradition is emphasized in two potpourris and two sets of variations with string trio accompaniment, composed during the years 1804 to 1808, and in his eight virtuoso quartets, written between 1806 and 1835. His first quatuor brilliant, opus 11, which he described in a letter to his publisher, Kühnel, as "of the Rode type" was followed by five more which were published with the same title. These are in three movements, without a minuet or scherzo, after the pattern of Rode's prototypes. A seventh, opus 30, was similarly designated on the autograph score despite its four movements, and opus 27 too, though it was published as Grand quatuor, is in the same tradition, being referred to in Spohr's autobiography as a Solo-Quartett.
Spohr has a distringuised melody line that runs and repeated throughout the cycle. If you are familiar with his Violin and Clarinet Concertos , you will find similarity there. If you like music from classical era, this set of string quartets is a valuable addition.
Louis Spohr String Quartet No.15 in Eb - I. Allegro vivace
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recorded 12 CD, published by Naxos :
