Programme

• Immortal Beloved

  Inspired by the letter that Beethoven wrote to a secret beloved woman, never identified, this programme highlights the intricate relationships between educated, cultured women of the end of the 18^th century. The talented Madame de Genlis was an educator, writer, harpist and teacher of the duchesse d’Orléans. Her book on education Adèle et Théodore was translated and was highly influential in England as a method of education. Sophia Dussek came from the famous Italian Corri publishing family and was married to the pianist Ladislav Dussek. She taught and composed for the harp. Fanny Krumpholtz was the daughter of the composer-harpist Jean-Baptist Krumpholtz and his first wife. In 1790, the duchesse of d’Orléans took care of Fanny, passing her into the care of Lord Hardwicke and she grew up with this adopted family in London and later in Ireland. Fanny was not a professional musician, but left her personal manuscript collection of pieces.

  Louis Spohr played chamber music exclusively with his harpist wife Dorette Spohr for fifteen years. This musical collaboration produced the most complex and virtuoso music ever written for the violin and harp. How much Dorette contributed to the composition process may never be known, but her wizardry pedal technique is etched in every bar of Louis Spohr’s music. When the Spohrs lived in Vienna from 1813-15, they personally knew Beethoven. Wenzel Krumpholtz was the uncle of Fanny Krumpholtz, a known violinist and close friend of Beethoven.

  This programme links the lives of musicians throughout Europe at a time when musicians and artists exchanged views and ideas, seeking new forms of expression through the most powerful languages: the language of music.

  • Beethoven Ludwig van Sonata Spring Op. 24 No. 5
  • Spohr Louis Sonata Concertante op 115
  • Krumpholtz Fanny A military divertimento, dedicated by permission to the Rt. Honorable Countess of Hardwicke (Lord Lieutenant of Ireland)
  • Spohr Louis Sonata concertante WoO 23
  • Dussek Sophia Two Favorite Irish Melodies and the Italian Monfrina
  • Krumpholtz Wenzel Abendunterhaltung für eine Violine

Video

• Beethoven Spring Sonata

Playlist

• L. Spohr op. 115 II° mov
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Where