He was born Ludwig, but became recognized everywhere, outside of his native Germany, as Louis (pronounced “Louie,” as in the French).
In his day, he was as highly regarded as Beethoven. A triple threat – a violinist, a conductor, and a composer – he churned out music in all genres. He wrote nine symphonies, ten operas, fifteen violin concertos, four clarinet concertos, and 36 string quartets. Add to that, innumerable chamber works for all sorts of instrumental combinations – with a special emphasis on the harp, since it was the instrument of his wife, with whom he often appeared in concert.
Following his death, in 1859, his reputation plummeted. It wasn’t until the late 20th century that his music underwent a significant revival.
This week on “Music from Marlboro,” we’ll hear the Sextet in C major, Op. 140, by Louis Spohr, a comparatively late work, but one infused with a remarkably youthful spirit. A supporter of German unification, republicanism, and democratic causes, Spohr was inspired by the revolutions that swept across Europe in 1848.
From the 1980 Marlboro Music Festival, we’ll enjoy a performance by violinists Pina Carmirelli and Veronica Knittel, violists Philipp Naegele and Karen Dreyfus, and cellists Peter Wiley and Georg Faust.
Spohr was a friend and colleague of Beethoven. He participated in a memorable run-through of Beethoven’s “Ghost” Trio, with the composer banging away at an out-of-tune piano. He also played in the premiere of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony.
With their association in mind, we’ll also hear Beethoven’s Quintet in E-flat for Piano and Winds, Op. 16, from 1796, a work allegedly inspired by Mozart’s Quintet, K. 452. The 2012 Marlboro performance will feature pianist Jonathan Biss, with oboist Mary Lynch, clarinetist Tibi Cziger, hornist Wei-Ping Chou, and bassoonist Natalya Rose Vrbsky.
Beethoven’s Quintet will be among the highlights on a program to be toured by Marlboro musicians, beginning this Saturday, with stops in Brattleboro, VT, Greenwich, CT, New York City (at Carnegie Hall), Philadelphia, PA (at the Kimmel Center), Washington, DC, and Boston, MA. Also on the program will be György Ligeti’s Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet, Samuel Barber’s “Summer Music,” and Francis Poulenc’s Sextet for Piano and Wind Quintet. You’ll find more information at marlboromusic.org.
In the meantime, I hope you’ll join me for music by the two Ludwigs, this Wednesday evening at 6:00 EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.
Marlboro School of Music and Festival: Official Page
Cravat-wearing clothes horses Beethoven (left) and Louis Spohr
