Lutoslawski: Concerto for Orchestra, etc
(B. B. C. Philharmonic Orchestra; Yan Pascal Tortelier, conductor)
The Concerto for Orchestra is the masterpiece of Witold Lutoslawki's first, tonal period. It's a colorful, folk-influenced piece that makes an immediate and attractive impression on even a casual listener. The later music is much more challenging, but as with all of this composer's works, almost self- explanatory in structure and emotional meaning. Lutoslawski, like all successful contemporary composers, forged a personal but highly communicative musical language from a variety of disparate elements. And, although it may take some listening to get into his mature pieces, they repay the attention. Super performances and sound. (review by David Hurwitz)
Lutoslawski: Orchestral Works Vol 1
(Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra Katowice)
This fine disc not only contains Lutoslawski's last major work, the compact and elegiac Fourth Symphony, it neatly gathers his two pieces for violin and orchestra, Chain II and the Partita. Like most Polish composers, Lutoslawski had a natural feeling for the violin, and although he never wrote a formal violin concerto, the Partita in particular certainly fits the bill. Like all of his best work, the music is modern in tone, but so lucidly structured and sonically eventful that, while it's certainly not easy listening, no sympathetic ear can fail to be impressed by its beauty and emotional directness. The performances, by the composer's compatriots, are all superb, and this budget-price disc is part of survey of the composer's complete orchestral music. Wonderful. (review by David Hurwitz)
The Essential Lutoslawski
(Martha Argerich, Nelson Freire, et al; Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, et al; Witold Lutoslawski and Witold Rowicki, conducting)