In his prime, Louis Spohr was regarded as the "Paganini of the North," so great was his renown as a concert violinist. His prodigious abilities are clearly represented in many of his compositions, wherever a solo violin part -- intended in most cases for himself -- is featured. Spohr's virtuosity was compounded, somewhat problematically, in his two Concertantes for two violins; the scarcity of violin duos equal to his demands made these scores unattractive to publishers and difficult to program. Now, of course, there is no shortage of capable players, and violinists
Ulf Hoelscher and Gunhild Hoelscher meet Spohr's challenges with aplomb and apparent delight, for these light, early Romantic double concertos are effervescent entertainments. The two violins intertwine elaborately in imitative repartee, and cavort in brilliant tandem passages at the sixth octave; yet these technical displays never become egregious or overwhelming, for Spohr's sense of proportions is still Classical, and his tone in both Concertantes is gemütlich. Almost as charming are the filler pieces for solo violin and orchestra, the Grande Polonaise and the Potpourri on Irish Folksongs, which
Ulf Hoelscher performs with polished expertise and buoyant humor. The
Berliner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester, conducted by
Christian Fröhlich, provides clear and solid accompaniment, and CPO's recording is fine.