Lutoslawski: Orchestral Works, Vol. 8 - Double Concerto; Dances Preludes; Chain I

Lutoslawski: Orchestral Works, Vol. 8 - Double Concerto; Dances Preludes; Chain I

Lutoslawski: Orchestral Works, Vol. 8 - Double Concerto; Dances Preludes; Chain I
List Price: $8.99
Our Price: $4.72
You Save: $4.27 (47%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.99 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Listen soundtracks from this album



(Click here)
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store

Music CD Cover

Performer: Rafal Kwiatowski
Performer: Zbigniew Kaleta
Composer: Witold Lutoslawski
Conductor: Antoni Wit
Performer: Nicolas Tulliez
Performer: Arkadiusz Krupa
Orchestra: National Symphony Orchestra of Polish Radio and Television
Performer: Urszula Kryger
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2003-09-23
Music Label: Naxos
Soundtracks:
  1. Allegro molto
  2. Andantino
  3. Allegro giocoso
  4. Andante
  5. Allegro molto
  6. Rapsodico
  7. Dolente
  8. Marziale e grotesco
  9. The Belated Nightingale
  10. About Mr. Tralalinski
  11. Dance
  12. The Four Seasons
  13. Kitten
  14. Grzes is going through the village
  15. A Brook
  16. The Bird's Gossips

Free Music Notes for Lutoslawski: Orchestral Works, Vol. 8 - Double Concerto; Dances Preludes; Chain I

Free Music Review: More fine music from Naxos
Hit: 5 Stars

Naxos continues to impress me with this fine CD. As with the others in the series, the CD contains pieces from across Lutoslawski's life. The so-called 'folk-music' period is represented by a fine reading of Dance Preludes (certainly not under-represented on CD--I have at least three recordings) as well as two cycles of songs for children. Lutoslawski's sureness of line and illustrative orchestration are well in evidence here. Sadly, works of this vintage are often the only work of this composer that many people know. It's a sound-world not much different from Martinu or early Bartok. It's a world that Lutoslawski forcefully abandonded by midlife.

"Chain 1" is the first of the Chain series where Lutoslawski began working with interwoven melodies. It's a curious fish that points (let's mix metaphors here) both forward and back. For the most part, it has a clarity that was not always obvious in work of the preceding decade. At the same time, there's a "climax by accumulation", which was a key aspect of mid-period works like "Livres". It's not entirely convincing, but is seldom repeated in works to follow.

"Grave" combines solo cello and string orchestra in an intensely lyrical six minutes. Few composers in recent memory could write so effectively for strings.

But the keystone of the CD is the "Double Concerto" for Oboe, Harp and Chamber Orchestra. This is among the most accessible of Lutoslawski's mature works. This performance is one of several available recordings, and acquits itself well. The brief first movement begins with an aleatoric swarm of strings, an effect that repeats a few times with diminishing intensity. Such writing had been an important aspect of Lutoslawki's middle period, and was almost completely abandonded in the works that followed the Double Concerto. In many ways, you can hear the composer discarding the technique as the movement proceeds The middle movement is singing and lyrical, demanding sureness of intonation and command of the highest register of the oboe. The oboist, Arkadiusz Krupa, is admirably up to these demands. The final movement is a comic masterpiece. It has a quirky little march, with the lightest of strings and percussion. It features a domestic argument of sorts, with lovely harp writing continually shouted down by screeching oboe multiphonics (the original performers were Heinz and Ursula Holliger--husband and wife). The piece wraps up with a reprise of the march over some wonderfully syncopated string harmony. To my ear, the original Holliger recording is a bit more effective in this final movement. Sill, this performance is excellent. I have many recordings of this fine piece and each one beckons for its own reasons.

It should be pointed out that these are also superb recordings from a technical point of view. They are beautifully detailed without harshness. Balances are spot-on. Antoni Wit conducts with respect for what's on the page and all the possibilities presented there. The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra plays this music as well as any orchestra in the world.

Classical Music CDs

Music Genres
Top music charts in Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994)
Safri Duo Performs Lutoslawski, Bart?k, Helweg ImageSafri Duo Performs Lutoslawski, Bart?k, Helweg
Release date: 1995-11-14; Music CD
Best price: $12.52
Price in other shops: $18.98
Copland: Clarinet Concerto; Lutoslawski: Dance Preludes; Nielsen: Clarinet Concerto ImageCopland: Clarinet Concerto; Lutoslawski: Dance Preludes; Nielsen: Clarinet Concerto
Release date: 1992-10-28; Music CD
Best price: $12.30
Price in other shops: $18.98
Szymanowski/Lutoslawski: String Quartets ImageSzymanowski/ Lutoslawski: String Quartets
Release date: 2001-02-27; Music CD
Best price: $17.98
Witold Lutoslawski: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra / Chain 3 / Novelette - Krystian Zimerman / BBC Symphony Orchestra / Witold Lutoslawski ImageWitold Lutoslawski: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra / Chain 3 / Novelette - Krystian Zimerman / BBC Symphony Orchestra / Witold Lutoslawski
Release date: 2005-03-21; Music CD
Best price: $23.85
Lutoslawski: Concerto for orchestra; Szymanowski: Concerto for violin Op61 ImageLutoslawski: Concerto for orchestra; Szymanowski: Concerto for violin Op61
Release date: 1997-10-14; Music CD
Best price: $102.04
Lutoslawski - Orchestral Works Vol. 6 - Symphony No. 1 ? Chantefleurs et Chantefables, etc ImageLutoslawski - Orchestral Works Vol. 6 - Symphony No. 1 ? Chantefleurs et Chantefables, etc
Release date: 1999-03-09; Music CD
Best price: $5.01
Price in other shops: $8.99
Lutoslawski: Concerto for Orchestra; Three Poems; Mi-Parti ImageLutoslawski: Concerto for Orchestra; Three Poems; Mi-Parti
Release date: 1998-12-01; Music CD
Best price: $5.30
Price in other shops: $8.99
Lutoslawski: Symphony No. 4; Partita for Violin & Orchestra ImageLutoslawski: Symphony No. 4; Partita for Violin & Orchestra
Release date: 1996-09-17; Music CD
Best price: $3.76
Price in other shops: $8.99
Lutoslawski: Symphony No. 3; Paganini Variations; Paroles Tiss?es; Les Espaces du Sommeil ImageLutoslawski: Symphony No. 3; Paganini Variations; Paroles Tiss?es; Les Espaces du Sommeil
Release date: 1997-04-22; Music CD
Best price: $4.42
Price in other shops: $8.99
Lutoslawski: Orchestral Works Vol. 2 - Symphony No. 2 - Little Suite - Piano Concerto - etc. ImageLutoslawski: Orchestral Works Vol. 2 - Symphony No. 2 - Little Suite - Piano Concerto - etc.
Release date: 1996-11-19; Music CD
Best price: $4.04
Price in other shops: $8.99
Top Rated Albums
Henze: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 3; Five Night Pieces ImageHenze: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 3; Five Night Pieces
Release date: 2006-06-20; Music CD
Best price: $4.70
Price in other shops: $8.99
The Ligeti Project I: Melodien / Chamber Concerto / Piano Concerto / Mysteries of the Macabre - Sch?nberg Ensemble / ASKO Ensemble / Reinbert de Leeuw ImageReinbert De Leeuw, Schonberg Ensemble - The Ligeti Project I: Melodien / Chamber Concerto / Piano Concerto / Mysteries of the Macabre - Sch?nberg Ensemble / ASKO Ensemble / Reinbert de Leeuw
Release date: 2001-06-19; Music CD
Best price: $9.69
Price in other shops: $16.99
Lutoslawski: Preludes & Fugues for 13 solo strings: Three Postludes; Fanfares ImageLutoslawski: Preludes & Fugues for 13 solo strings: Three Postludes; Fanfares
Release date: 2001-11-20; Music CD
Best price: $4.46
Price in other shops: $8.99
Lutoslawski: Twenty Polish Christmas Carols; Lacrimosa; Five Songs ImageLutoslawski: Twenty Polish Christmas Carols; Lacrimosa; Five Songs
Release date: 2005-10-18; Music CD
Best price: $5.70
Price in other shops: $8.99
Lutoslawski: Orchestral Works; Songs; String Quartet ImageLutoslawski: Orchestral Works; Songs; String Quartet
Release date: 2004-08-10; Music CD
Best price: $6.80
Price in other shops: $11.98
Lutoslawski: Symphony No. 4; Partita for Violin & Orchestra ImageLutoslawski: Symphony No. 4; Partita for Violin & Orchestra
Release date: 1996-09-17; Music CD
Best price: $3.79
Price in other shops: $8.99
Lutoslawski: Symphony No. 3; Paganini Variations; Paroles Tiss?es; Les Espaces du Sommeil ImageLutoslawski: Symphony No. 3; Paganini Variations; Paroles Tiss?es; Les Espaces du Sommeil
Release date: 1997-04-22; Music CD
Best price: $4.46
Price in other shops: $8.99
Lutoslawski - Orchestral Works Vol. 6 - Symphony No. 1 ? Chantefleurs et Chantefables, etc ImageLutoslawski - Orchestral Works Vol. 6 - Symphony No. 1 ? Chantefleurs et Chantefables, etc
Release date: 1999-03-09; Music CD
Best price: $5.13
Price in other shops: $8.99
Witold Lutoslawski: Concerto for Cello / Novellettes ImageWitold Lutoslawski: Concerto for Cello / Novellettes
Release date: 1998-07-28; Music CD
Best price: $4.80
Price in other shops: $8.99
Lutoslawski: Concerto for Orchestra; Three Poems; Mi-Parti ImageLutoslawski: Concerto for Orchestra; Three Poems; Mi-Parti
Release date: 1998-12-01; Music CD
Best price: $5.37
Price in other shops: $8.99
Compare prices and find music notes for more than one million Music CD titles