Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit - Lutosławski: Symphonies, Concertos, Choral and Vocal Works (10CD) (2013)

02 Aug, 15:36
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Artist: Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Antoni Wit
Title: Lutosławski: Symphonies, Concertos, Choral and Vocal Works
Year Of Release: 2013
Label: Naxos
Genre: Classical
Quality: FLAC (image+.cue,log,scans)
Total Time: 11:31:45
Total Size: 2.8 Gb
WebSite: Album Preview

Tracklist:

CD01
[1]-[4] Symphony No.1
[5]-[7] Silesian Triptych
[8]-[11] Jeux vénitiens
[12]-[20] Chantefleurs et Chantefables
[21] Postludium I
Olga Pasichnyk soprano

CD02
[1] Symphonic Variations
[2]-[5] Little Suite (Mala suita)
[6]-[7] Symphony No.2
[8]-[11] Concerto for Piano and Orchestra
Piotr Paleczny piano

CD03
[1] Paganini Variations
Bernd Glemser piano
[2]-[5] Paroles tissées
Piotr Kusiewicz tenor
[6] Les Espaces du sommeil
Adam Kruszewski baritone
[7] Symphony No. 3

CD04
[1]-[4] Funeral Music for Strings
[5]-[8] Chain II: Dialogue for Violin and Orchestra
[9] Interlude
[10]-[14] Partita for Violin and Orchestra
[15] Symphony No.4
Krzysztof Bakowski violin

CD05
[1] Livre pour orchestre
[2] Concerto for Cello and Orchestra
Andrzej Bauer cello
[3]-[7] Novelette
[8] Chain III

CD06
[1]-[3] Concerto for Orchestra
[4]-[6] Three Poems by Henri Michaux
Camerata Silesia
Anna Szostak director
[7] Mi-parti for Symphony Orchestra
[8] Overture for Strings

CD07
[1]-[3] Three Postludes
[4]-[11] Preludes and Fugue for 13 solo strings
[12] Mini Overture
[13] Fanfare for Louisville
[14] Fanfare for CUBE
[15] Prelude for G. S. M. D.
[16] Fanfare for the University of Lancaster

CD08
[1]-[5] Dance Preludes for Clarinet and Orchestra
Zbigniew Kaleta clarinet
[6]-[8] Double Concerto for Oboe, Harp and Chamber Orchestra
Arkadiusz Krupa oboe
Nicolas Tulliez harp
[9] Grave - Metamorphoses for Cello and String Orchestra
Rafał Kwiatkowski cello
[10] Chain I for 14 performers
[11]-[12] Two Children's Songs for Voice and Chamber Orchestra
[13]-[18] Six Children's Songs for Voice and Instrumens
Urszula Kryger soprano

CD09
[1]-[20] 20 Polish Christmas Carols
[21] Lacrimosa
Olga Pasichnyk soprano
Polish Radio Chorus
[22]-[26] 5 Songs
Jadwiga Rappé contralto

CD10
Lutosławski's Last Concert
[1]-[5] Partita for Violin and Orchestra
[6] Interlude
[7]-[10] Chain II - Dialogue for Violin and Orchestra
[11]-[19] Chantefleurs et Chantefables
[20] Chain I
Fujiko Imajishi violin
Valdine Anderson soprano
New Music Concerts
Witold Lutoslawski

Performers:
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Antoni Wit

This tremendously rewarding set contains 38 works on nine CDs, plus a bonus tenth disc featuring the composer’s last appearance conducting his own works (well recorded by the CBC in Toronto, just a few months before his death). Lutoskawski was one of the 20th century’s great musical voices, and although he’s best known for his more avant-garde pieces, plus the transitional Concerto for Orchestra, the truth is that his range was far wider than that. Having the opportunity to savor some four-plus decades of his output, from the marvelous 20 Polish Christmas Carols of 1946 right through to the end of his career in 1994 is a remarkable experience.

At the heart of this collection lies the work of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra under Antoni Wit, a largely unsung but truly great conductor who is completely in his element here. He plays all of this music with idiomatic flair, but also a passion and intensity that is very special. Sample, for instance, his ultra vibrant handling of the conclusion of the Third Symphony (sound clip). In the concertos and vocal works, Wit is joined by a stellar selection of talent both familiar and local, but no less accomplished: soprano Olga Pasichnyk, tenor Piotr Kusiewicz, baritone Adam Kruszewski, pianist Bernd Glemser, violinist Krzystof Bakowski, cellist Andrzej Bauer, and several others. Lutoslawski, throughout is life, enjoyed the advocacy of the best and most famous artists in their respective media, but none of Wit’s associates need fear comparison to them.

The set’s ten discs come packaged in a sturdy box with a booklet containing all of the original notes. The fact is that these performances are, on the whole, finer than the composer’s own, and the engineering is excellent too. The only things missing are translations of the texts (which can be found on the Naxos website). Still, this is a landmark set, and a major accomplishment by any standard.