Louis Spohr rejected improvised cadenzas, believing they pandered to soloists' worst instincts and devalued the composition; only two of his violin concertos include short, written-out cadenzas.
Performer Biography
Simone Lamsma, the Dutch violinist on this recording, made her acclaimed solo debut at age fourteen and was the youngest student ever to enter The Royal Academy of Music's Bachelor of Music Program.
Composer Biography
Louis Spohr, a leading German violinist of his day, was born in Brunswick in 1784 and achieved overnight fame with a concert in Leipzig in December 1804.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Louis Spohr's music blends Romantic harmony and instrumental texture with Classical formal design, a characteristic that later contributed to his decline in popularity.
Instruments
For this recording, violinist Simone Lamsma plays a Carlo Tononi violin from Bologna, dated 1709.
Composer Biography
Louis Spohr was instrumental in establishing the regular use of the baton as a conductor, leading pioneering performances of major works by Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, and Wagner.
Critical Reception
Influential critic Friedrich Rochlitz praised Louis Spohr's Violin Concerto No. 2, stating it ranked among the finest existing and surpassed others in conception, soul, and charm.
