Spohr's clarinet concertos were written for the clarinettist Johann Simon Hermstedt, who commissioned the first concerto in 1808 and subsequently requested additional works.
Performer Biography
Ernst Ottensamer, the clarinet soloist, became a principal clarinettist with the Vienna State Opera and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in 1983 and is a founder-member of the Vienna Wind Ensemble.
Composer Biography
Spohr's career included positions as Konzertmeister at Gotha, director of the orchestra at the Theater an der Wien, and Kapellmeister at the opera in Frankfurt and Kassel.
Composer Biography
Louis Spohr, born in 1784, came from a family of doctors and clergy, and began developing his musical interests with violin lessons and composition attempts at a young age.
Instruments
The clarinet part in Spohr's first concerto necessitated changes to the instrument itself, which Johann Simon Hermstedt, the dedicatee, was able to secure for a proper response throughout its register.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at the House of Arts in Košice, with tracks 1-6 recorded in September 1991 and tracks 7-8 recorded in February 1994.
Critical Reception
While Spohr was considered one of the leading composers of his time, his reputation began to decline by his death in 1859, as he represented an older classical tradition.
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Spohr: The Complete Works for Clarinet & Orchestra
