It was the perfect match of composer and performer. But the music was nearly impossible to play.
Louis Spohr was among the most popular composers of his day, considered a peer to Mozart, Hayden and Beethoven. In 1808, Spohr composed a concerto for virtuoso clarinetist Johann Hermstedt. Unfortunately Spohr, knowing little of the clarinet’s capacities, delivered a work of unprecedented technical difficulty.
Yet Hermstedt, rather than asking Spohr to alter the music, instead altered his instrument, increasing the number of keys to 13. Thus began a decades-long musical partnership that helped shape the evolution of the modern clarinet.
At 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, Grammy-winning soprano Estelí Gomez and renowned clarinetist Eric Hoeprich will join Seth Carlin, professor of music in Arts & Sciences, for several of Spohr’s clarinet works as part of Washington University’s 2015 Liederabend.
Literally translated as “evening of song,” Liederabend is a German term referring to a recital given by a singer and pianist, particularly of works by 19th-century Austrian or German composers. Though most lieder use only voice and piano, this year’s program will highlight a subgenre of Lieder that includes an additional instrument part or obbligato — in this case a clarinet.
The program, titled “Shepherd on the Rock,” will focus on songs that suggest pastoral settings and idyllic rural landscapes. It will open with three selections from Spohr’s 1837 collection “Sechs Deutsche Lieder” for voice, piano and clarinet, followed by Felix Mendelssohn’s recently rediscovered “Des Menschen Herz ist ein Schlacht.”
Next up will be Giacomo Meyerbeer’s “Le Chant du Berger” and Carl Maria von Weber’s “Sylvana” Variations. Following intermission, the program will conclude with four more lieder by Mendelssohn and a trio of songs by Franz Schubert.
The Liederabend takes place in the Ballroom Theatre of the 560 Music Center, located at 560 Trinity Ave., in University City. Tickets are $20, or $15 for seniors and WashU faculty and staff and free for students.
For more information, call 314-935-5566 or e-mail daniels@wustl.edu.
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