Spohr's reputation as a violin virtuoso, composer, conductor and instrumental teacher was outstanding in the early Romantic period. "Die letzten Dinge" is considered the most important of his four oratorios. At its premiere on Good Friday 1826, it met with unanimous enthusiasm. The oratorio is based on the most theologically significant parts of the New Testament Book of Revelation, which Friedrich Rochlitz compiled into a libretto. In close collaboration with Rochlitz, Spohr brought the visions of death and eternity to musical fruition in a haunting manner, whereby a positive, comforting and expectant attitude pervades the work.The work represents an important enrichment of the oratorio literature, particularly at the end of the church year; it captivates with its masterful instrumentation, superior use of chromaticism, large-scale solo recitatives and catchy choral parts full of heartfelt sensitivity on the one hand and stirring drama on the other.This edition is the first time Carus has published the oratorio in a critical edition.
