|
The composer and conductor Witold Lutosławski (1913–1994) was one of the major European composers of the 20th century, and is regarded by many as the greatest Polish composer since Chopin.
Lutosławski’s significant output includes four symphonies, three solo concertos, vocal music and a string quartet. When, in 1949, the overtly neo-classical First Symphony (1941-47) was banned as “formalist” by the Communist regime, he turned to folk music as a potential source of raw compositional material. The exuberant and accessible Concerto for Orchestra (1950-54), was the first of his works to alert international opinion to his genius. Following the death of Stalin in 1953, as greater experimentation and increased contact with the West became possible, Lutosławski began to introduce into his music more advance techniques, evident in the moving Funeral Music and Venetian Games of 1961. In the 1980s, he gave artistic support to the Solidarity movement, which claimed victory when free elections eventually took place in Poland in 1988-9. In January 1994, a month before his death, Lutosławski was awarded the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest honour and an award which had not been made during the communist period.
2013 marks the centenary of Lutosławski’s birth. Let us celebrate his life and legacy with some of his masterpieces in acclaimed Naxos recordings.
Featured Releases
|
Naxos 8.553423
|
LUTOSLAWSKI: Symphony No. 3 / Paganini Variations
Bernd Glemser • Piotr Kusiewicz • Adam Kruszewski
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra • Antoni Wit
'Wit conjures a fantastic range of tone colour from his well-drilled Polish orchestra' - Classic CD
|
|
|
