Louis Spohr‘s oratorio The Last Judgment is one of his most successful works and one of the most important contributions to the repertoire of the oratorio. The premiere on Good Friday 1826 was a huge success. It is based on the theologically most significant portions of the Revelations of John in the New Testament, which Friedrich Rochlitz compiled for the libretto. In collaboration with Rochlitz Spohr vividly portrayed in music the visions of death and eternity. The composition is suffused by a positive, comforting fundamental attitude of joyful anticipation.
The work is especially suitable for the end of the church year. It is captivating on account of its masterful instrumentation, excellent use of chromaticism, large-scale solo recitatives and accessible choral passages filled with heartfelt sensitivity on the one hand, and exciting drama on the other.
Carus has published the first critical edition of the oratorio.
Contents
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Composer
Louis Spohr
| 1784-1859Louis Spohr, born 1784 in Braunschweig, died 1859 in Kassel. Considered one of the best violinists, conductors and composers of his time. He received violin lessons from the age of five. As early as 1799 violinist in the Brunswick court orchestra, then concertmaster in Gotha; 1812 - 1815 Kapellmeister in Vienna; from 1822 court Kapellmeister in Kassel, recommended by C. M. v. Weber. Extensive concert tours brought him together with N. Paganini, among others. He left behind over 200 works, including many a cappella choirs. His oratorio ‘Die letzten Dinge’ (1826) was highly regarded in the 19th century. Personal details
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Editor
Dieter Zeh
| 1942
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Editor
Irene Schallhorn
Reviews
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... So entstand die kongeniale Partitur eines Werkes, das trotz seines geistlichen Textes keineswegs an die Kirche als Aufführungs ort gebunden ist, dem Chor eine überaus dankbare Rolle zuweist und Spohr von seiner allerbesten Seite zeigt: in einem melodisch ausgerichteten, mit köstlicher Chromatik angereicherten und auch kontrapunktisch versiert strukturierten Satz. Die Neuausgabe in bewährter Carus-Qualität wird im Notenregal den 1987 in New York erschienenen wohlfeilen Reprint der Erstausgabe ersetzen.
Michael Kube, FONO FORUM, 01/09
... Diese Komposition wäre doch eine überzeugende Programmidee für ein abendfüllendes Konzert am Ende des Kirchenjahres.
Singende Kirche, Heft 3, 2008