The Slovak State Philharmonic, Košice, the orchestra on this recording, was established in 1968 as the second professional symphony orchestra in Slovakia.
Performer Biography
Alfred Walter, the conductor, served at Bayreuth as assistant to renowned conductors Hans Knappertsbusch and Karl Böhm.
Composer Biography
Louis Spohr, the composer, was probably the first composer of repute to feel the pressure of Beethoven's symphonies, approaching the form hesitantly.
Critical Reception
Louis Spohr's First Symphony was praised by influential music critic E.T.A. Hoffmann, who expressed great hopes for the composer's future symphonic works.
Performer Biography
Alfred Walter, the conductor on this album, was appointed assistant conductor to the Opera of Ravensburg in 1948 and became conductor of the Graz Opera at age twenty-two.
Performer Biography
The Slovak State Philharmonic, Košice has made over 130 commercial recordings, including rare repertoire and participation in complete works series for Naxos and Marco Polo.
Composer Biography
Louis Spohr, like Beethoven and many successors, officially composed nine symphonies, though a tenth was set aside by him with instructions never to be performed.
