The Romantic Room: Chamber Works by Spohr WDR Sinfonieorchester Chamber Players

• Louis Spohr (1784 - 1859): Double String Quartet No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 65:
• 1 Spohr: Double String Quartet No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 65: I. Allegro 09:41
• 2 Spohr: Double String Quartet No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 65: II. Scherzo: Vivace 04:32
• 3 Spohr: Double String Quartet No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 65: III. Larghetto 03:05
• 4 Spohr: Double String Quartet No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 65: IV. Allegretto molto 06:21
• Double String Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 77:
• 5 Spohr: Double String Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 77: I. Allegro vivace 09:11
• 6 Spohr: Double String Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 77: II. Menuetto – Trio 06:34
• 7 Spohr: Double String Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 77: III. Larghetto con moto 05:02
• 8 Spohr: Double String Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 77: IV. Allegretto 06:23
• Double String Quartet No. 3 in E Minor, Op. 87:
• 9 Spohr: Double String Quartet No. 3 in E Minor, Op. 87: I. Adagio — Allegro 12:34
• 10 Spohr: Double String Quartet No. 3 in E Minor, Op. 87: II. Andante con variazioni 08:23
• 11 Spohr: Double String Quartet No. 3 in E Minor, Op. 87: III. Scherzo. Allegro 06:13
• 12 Spohr: Double String Quartet No. 3 in E Minor, Op. 87: IV. Finale. Allegro molto 06:46
• Double String Quartet No. 4 in G Minor, Op. 136:
• 13 Spohr: Double String Quartet No. 4 in G Minor, Op. 136: I. Allegro 10:27
• 14 Spohr: Double String Quartet No. 4 in G Minor, Op. 136: II. Larghetto 05:28
• 15 Spohr: Double String Quartet No. 4 in G Minor, Op. 136: III. Scherzo. Moderato 06:14
• 16 Spohr: Double String Quartet No. 4 in G Minor, Op. 136: IV. Finale. Vivace 08:26
• String Quintet No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 33:
• 17 Spohr: String Quintet No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 33: I. Allegro 09:58
• 18 Spohr: String Quintet No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 33: II. Larghetto 04:52
• 19 Spohr: String Quintet No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 33: III. Minuetto. Moderato 05:18
• 20 Spohr: String Quintet No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 33: IV. Finale. Allegretto 08:33
• String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 33:
• 21 Spohr: String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 33: I. Allegro 13:48
• 22 Spohr: String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 33: II. Scherzo and Trio 05:34
• 23 Spohr: String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 33: III. Andante 06:45
• 24 Spohr: String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 33: IV. Finale. Allegro 09:37
• String Quintet No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 69:
• 25 Spohr: String Quintet No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 69: I. Allegro 11:55
• 26 Spohr: String Quintet No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 69: II. Scherzo 06:02
• 27 Spohr: String Quintet No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 69: III. Adagio 04:48
• 28 Spohr: String Quintet No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 69: IV. Rondo 08:09
• String Quintet No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 91:
• 29 Spohr: String Quintet No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 91: I. Allegro 11:46
• 30 Spohr: String Quintet No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 91: II. Larghetto 05:17
• 31 Spohr: String Quintet No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 91: III. Menuetto 05:54
• 32 Spohr: String Quintet No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 91: IV. Finale. Presto 09:17
• String Quintet No. 5 in G Minor, Op. 106:
• 33 Spohr: String Quintet No. 5 in G Minor, Op. 106: I. Allegro moderato 11:22
• 34 Spohr: String Quintet No. 5 in G Minor, Op. 106: II. Larghetto 05:56
• 35 Spohr: String Quintet No. 5 in G Minor, Op. 106: III. Scherzo and Trio 06:56
• 36 Spohr: String Quintet No. 5 in G Minor, Op. 106: IV. Finale Pastorale. Allegro molto 06:01
• String Quintet No. 6 in E Minor, Op. 129:
• 37 Spohr: String Quintet No. 6 in E Minor, Op. 129: I. Allegro 08:33
• 38 Spohr: String Quintet No. 6 in E Minor, Op. 129: II. Scherzo. Vivace 05:20
• 39 Spohr: String Quintet No. 6 in E Minor, Op. 129: III. Adagio 06:23
• 40 Spohr: String Quintet No. 6 in E Minor, Op. 129: IV. Finale. Presto 08:00
• Potpourri No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22, "on themes of Mozart":
• 41 Spohr: Potpourri No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22, "on themes of Mozart": I. Adagio con espressione - Allegretto - Andante con espressione 02:14
• 42 Spohr: Potpourri No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22, "on themes of Mozart": II. Allegretto 09:30
• 43 Spohr: Potpourri No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 22, "on themes of Mozart": III. Allegretto 02:23
• String Quintet No. 7 in G Minor, Op. 144:
• 44 Spohr: String Quintet No. 7 in G Minor, Op. 144: I. Allegro moderato 12:04
• 45 Spohr: String Quintet No. 7 in G Minor, Op. 144: II. Larghetto 06:02
• 46 Spohr: String Quintet No. 7 in G Minor, Op. 144: III. Menuetto 06:30
• 47 Spohr: String Quintet No. 7 in G Minor, Op. 144: IV. Finale. Allegro 06:52
• String Sextet in C Major, Op. 140:
• 48 Spohr: String Sextet in C Major, Op. 140: I. Allegro moderato 10:19
• 49 Spohr: String Sextet in C Major, Op. 140: II. Larghetto 05:16
• 50 Spohr: String Sextet in C Major, Op. 140: III. Scherzo. Moderato 02:40
• 51 Spohr: String Sextet in C Major, Op. 140: IV. Finale. Presto - Moderato – Presto 07:57
• Total Runtime 06:13:11

Info for The Romantic Room: Chamber Works by Spohr

The Romantic Room is an expansive six-volume set exploring the rich and often overlooked chamber music of Louis Spohr, brought vividly to life by the WDR Sinfonieorchester Chamber Players. Once hailed as the “German Paganini” and revered across Europe, Spohr was a pivotal figure of early Romanticism – an innovator who shaped the transition from Classical refinement to Romantic expression. This collection showcases his elegant string quintets and sextets, daring double quartets, and characterful potpourri, offering a portrait of a composer whose expressive range and artistic integrity remain strikingly relevant today.

Spohr’s chamber works are richly crafted and musically intricate, offering both technical challenges and expressive depth. These performances reveal a composer deeply rooted in tradition yet unafraid to experiment, blending lyrical intimacy with bold structural ideas. Following the highly acclaimed Brahms: String Sextets (Diapason d’Or) and String Quintets, the The Romantic Room: Chamber Works by Spohr box set is the WDR Sinfonieorchester Chamber Players’ third release on PENTATONE. The WDR Symphony Orchestra has also released an extensive discography with the label.

WDR Sinfonieorchester Chamber Players

WDR Sinfonieorchester Chamber Players
A string Quintet with two violas was once standard in the 17th century. Many great composers have written masterpieces for this formation. These five musicians from WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, one of the leading European Orchestras, decided to draw their inspiration from years of devoted chamber music experience and their culturally diverse backgrounds.

Since their debut performance in 2016, WDR Chamber Players came to prominence in a 2017 tour across China which proved hugely successful. Their debut CD of Johannes Brahms String Quintets was released in April 2017 by Pentatone and was awarded the International magazine Diapason’s “Diapason D’or” prize.

Enthusiastic responses from audiences and critics have encouraged the ensemble to continue their path. Through live concerts and radio broadcast, the Chamber Players continues to realise their goal of sharing their passion for music with the listeners.

"Distinguished for their unified sound, colorful tone of expression and energetic intensity, the WDR Chamber Players manage to seamlessly combine symphonic scale with the intimacy of chamber music." "They give an infinite sensuality to the abundant lyricism, finding everywhere refined colours and a dynamic without gravity." 2020 was a challenging year for everyone. Since our concerts were cancelled due to pandemic restrictions, we focused on CD productions. Our CD of the Bruch String Quintets and Octet has just been released by Alpha classics and will soon be followed by Beethoven's String Trio and Septet.

We are invited to perform at the international Enescu Festival this September. Looking forward to be playing for audiences soon again!

Special thanks to Mr. Jianquan Ge and Mr. Peng Bai for sponsoring the Violin Rocca 1851, played by Ye Wu.

Booklet for The Romantic Room: Chamber Works by Spohr