Charles Dalmas wrote concerning Louis Spohr:

>Speaking as a clarinet player, I can say that his four concertos
>are specious and superficial.
>
>The rest of his work (that which I have heard) is equally dull and
>uninteresting.

I have a relatively high opinion of Spohr's music.  But, I don't consider
his clarinet concertos to be among his better compositions.  It's Spohr's
chamber works which result in my overall assessment.  I've enjoyed the
string quartet and quintet series on Marco Polo, a great disc of string
chamber works on Sony Vivarte performed by L'Archbudelli, 2 discs of wind
and string works on MDG, a piano chamber disc on MDG, and the complete
piano trios on CPO.

I'm not suggesting to Charles that he go out and buy these recordings, and
that he will then think more favorably of Spohr.  I'm just saying that *I*
find those works much better than the clarinet concertos.  I am interested
in the other Spohr works Charles has heard.

Don Satz
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