One of the giants of music-making in the 19th century, Louis Spohr excelled as a composer, violin virtuoso, conductor and teacher. His concertos for the violin (Nos. 6, 8 and 11 can be heard on 8.570528 and the world premiere recordings of Nos. 7 and 12 on 8.555101) demonstrate a Romantic temperament framed in a Classical style, but he was equally adept in smaller forms. The Duets for Two Violins, Op. 67 reveal a perfect sense of architecture, the two instruments frequently exchanging roles, as well as a majestic command of melody. The Duet, WoO 21, written when Spohr was just 12 years old, is one of his earliest surviving compositions.