LOUIS SPOHR (1784–1859)

 

1 Overture ‘Das befreite Deutschland’ WoO64 (1814) [8'10] FIRST RECORDING

Symphony No 4 in F major ‘Die Weihe der Töne’ Op 86 (1832) [36'27]

2 Largo – Allegro [10'08]

3 Andantino – Allegro – Andantino [6'43]

4 Tempo di Marcia – Andante maestoso [12'54]

5 Larghetto – Allegretto [6'42]

 

Symphony No 5 in C minor Op 102 (1837) [33'23]

6 Andante – Allegro [12'12]

7 Larghetto [6'25]

8 Scherzo [4'08]

9 Presto [10'38]

 

Total Duration: 78'22

 

Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana / Howard Shelley

 

In this second volume of Spohr’s symphonies, Howard Shelley and the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana continue their exploration of this enjoyable and little-known repertoire. Formerly one of the most significant personalities in nineteenth-century German music, Spohr’s symphonies were as popular as those of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven until he fell from fashion in the later part of the nineteenth century.

 

Symphony No 4 was quickly acclaimed as the composer’s symphonic masterpiece after its first performance. It is a forward-looking, programmatic work based on a poem by Carl Pfeiffer, ‘The Consecration of Sounds’. Unusually, it features a slow finale, and in this way was an important example to future composers including Tchaikovsky and Mahler. Symphony No 5 is a deeply felt work, pouring out pent-up emotions from dramatic events in the composer’s life at the time of writing with real expressive power.

 

The disc also features the overture to a cantata Das befreite Deutschland (‘Germany liberated’), composed following Napoleon’s disastrous defeat at the battle of Leipzig in October 1813.

 

Praise for LOUIS SPOHR (1784-1859): Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 Compact Disc CDA67616:

‘Howard Shelley and his skilled orchestra are attentive to the music’s lyrical charm and colourful wind scoring’ (Daily Telegraph) ‘The first two symphonies … are well worth an airing, and their finales in particular have a great deal of life … Howard Shelley’s direction is highly effective’ (Manchester Evening News)

 

Hyperion CDA67622