Witold Lutosławski - Centenary Edition. (Gold Collection 8CDs) [2012]

Witold Lutosławski (Jan.25, 1913 – Feb.7, 1994), a Polish composer and conductor, one of the major European composers of the 20th century, and one of the preeminent Polish musicians during his last three decades. He earned many international awards and prizes. His compositions (of which he was a notable conductor) include four symphonies, a Concerto for Orchestra, a string quartet, several instrumental concertos and orchestral song cycles.

During his youth, Lutosławski studied piano and composition in Warsaw. His early works were influenced by Polish folk music. His style demonstrates a wide range of rich atmospheric textures. He began to develop his own characteristic composition techniques in the late 1950s. His music from this period onwards incorporates his own methods of building harmonies from small groups of musical intervals. It also uses aleatoric processes, in which the rhythmic coordination of parts is subject to an element of chance.

During World War II, after escaping German capture, Lutosławski made a living by playing the piano in Warsaw bars. After the war, Stalinist authorities banned his First Symphony for being "formalist"—allegedly accessible only to an elite. Lutosławski believed such anti-formalism was an unjustified retrograde step, and he resolutely strove to maintain his artistic integrity. In the 1980s, Lutosławski gave artistic support to the Solidarity movement. Near the end of his life, he was awarded the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest honour.

Tracklisting & Performer:
CD1 [1:12;52]
[1] Lacrimosa
[2-5] I Symfonia / Symphony No. 1
[6-8] Koncert na orkiestrę / Concerto for Orchestra
[9] Musique funebre

Stefania Woytowicz - soprano [CD1] (1)
The Silesian Philharmonic Choir [CD1] (1)
The Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra [CD1] (1)
Warsaw Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra [CD1] (2-9)
Witold Lutoslawski - conductor [CD1] (1-5)
Witold Rowicki - conductor [CD1] (6-9)

CD2 [1:04;52]
[1-4] Jeux vénitiens
[5-7] Trois poèmes d'Henri Michaux
[8-9] II Symfonia / Symphony No. 2

Warsaw Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra [CD2] (1-4,8-9)
The Polish Radio Choir [CD2] (5-7)
The Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra [CD2] (5-7)
Witold Lutoslawski - conductor [CD2] (5-7,8-9)
Witold Rowicki - conductor [CD2] (1-4)
Jan Krenz - conductor [CD2] (5-7)

CD3 [1:03;17]
[1] Postludium I / Postludium No. 1
[2] Paroles tissées
[3] Livre pour orchestre
[4] Koncert na wiolonczelę i orkiestrę / Concerto for Cello and Orchestra

Louis Devos - tenor [CD3] (2)
Roman Jabtoriski - cello [CD3] (4)
Warsaw Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble [CD3] (2,3)
The Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra [CD3] (1,4)
Witold Lutoslawski - conductor [CD3] (2,4)
Jan Krenz - conductor [CD3] (1,3)

CD4 [1:06;38]
[1-2] Preludia i fuga / Preludes and a Fugue
[3] Mi - parti
[4] Novelette

Warsaw Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble [CD4] (1-2)
The Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra [CD4] (3)
Witold Lutoslawski - conductor [CD4] (1-3)
Junge Deutsche Philharmonie [CD4] (4)
Heinz Holliger - conductor [CD4] (4)

CD5 [1:09;17]
[1] III Symfonia / Symphony No. 3
[2] Łańcuch I / Chain 1
[3-6] Łańcuch II* / Chain 2
[7] Łańcuch III / Chain 3

Krzysztof Jakowicz - violin [CD5] (3-6)
Warsaw Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra [CD5] (1,3-6)
Junge Deutsche Philharmonie [CD5] (2)
The Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra [CD5] (7)
Witold Lutoslawski - conductor [CD5] (1,7)
Heinz Holliger - conductor [CD5] (2)
Kazimierz Kord - conductor [CD5] (3-6)

CD6 [1:13;42]
[1] Dwie etiudy / Two Studies
[2] Wariacje na temat Paganiniego
[3-7] Pięć pieśni do słów Kazimiery Iłłakowiczówny / Five Songs to poems by Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna
[8] Kwartet smyczkowy / String Quartet*
[9] Epitafium / Epitaph*
[10] Grave
[11] Partita

Halina Lukomska - soprano [CD6] (3-7)
Marek Drewnowski - piano [CD6] (1)
Jacek Lukaszczyk - piano [CD6] (2)
Maciej Lukaszczyk - piano [CD6] (2)
LaSalle String Quartet: [CD6] (8)
Walter Levin - 1st violin
Henry Meyer - 2nd violin
Peter Kamnitzer - viola
Jack Kirstein - cello
Heinz Holliger - oboe [CD6] (9)
Szabolcs Esztenyi - piano [CD6] (9,10)
Roman Jablonski - cello [CD6] (10)
Konstanty Andrzej Kulka - violin [CD6] (11)
Eugeniusz Knapik - piano [CD6] (11)
Warsaw Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra [CD6] (3-7)
Andrzej Markowski - conductor [CD6] (3-7)

CD7 [1:06;45]
[1-4] Koncert na fortepian i orkiestrę / Concerto for Piano and Orchestra
[5-13] Chantefleurs et Chantefables*
[14] IV Symfonia /Symphony No. 4*

Solveig Kringlebotn - soprano [CD7] (5-13)
Ewa Pobtocka - piano [CD7] (1-4)
The Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra [CD7] (1-4)
Sinfonia Varsovia [CD7] (5-13)
Warsaw Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra [CD7] (1-4,14)
Witold Lutoslawski - conductor [CD7] (1-14)

CD8 [41;03]
[1] Parita
[2] Interludium*
[3-6] Łańcuch II / Chain 2

Krzysztof Jakowicz - violin [CD8] (1,3-6)
Krystyna Borucinska - piano [CD8] (1)
Sinfonia Varsovia [CD8] (1,2)
The Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra [CD8] (3-6)
Wojciech Michniewski - conductor [CD8] (1)
Witold Lutoslawski - conductor [CD8] (2,3-6)

* pierwsze wykonanie w Polsce (* first performance in Poland)