Louis Spohr

Adagio WoO 35

The composer, violinist and educationalist Louis Spohr (1784-1859) caused a sensation as a child already: At the age of 5, he took his first violin lessons and at the age of 15 was employed as chamber musician of the Duke's orchestra. Very soon, his fame as a virtuoso violinist ran ahead of him, and he undertook concert tours throughout Europe. On these trips, he was often accompanied by his first wife, a virtuoso harpist and pianist. For their joint music-making, Spohr wrote a Sonata for violin and harp the adagio of which was rearranged for bassoon and piano. It was followed by arrangements for other melodic instruments, although not by Spohr himself. This is a melodious setting - now cantabile, now passionate - which is worth playing and listening to.