Tansman Bacewicz Karłowicz Penderecki – new releases (DUX)

We’ll never get through this if I only post one CD per entry. So three in one go today.

DUX 0685

Since Mieczysław Karłowicz died the same year that Grażyna Bacewicz was born, they share a 100th anniversary this year (of his death and her birth). On that account DUX have released something that promises to be a real treat: a recording of the Violin Concerto No. 3 (Bacewicz) coupled with Eternal Songs (Karłowicz). The soloist in the concerto is Krzysztof Jakowicz. He happens to be my favorite Polish violinist so I am quite, quite excited (especially since his discography has been rather skimpy so far, and he’s turning 70 soon). The orchestra can’t really be called world-class but it’s not a bad ensemble either: it’s the Orchestra of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic in Białystok under Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski.

DUX 0694

The second interesting release I’d like to mention is a disc of Krzysztof Penderecki’s complete choral works (!) sung by the Polish Chamber Choir – a seasoned choral ensemble (one of the best in this country), which you might also know by the name Schola Cantorum Gedanensis. It is conducted by Jan Łukaszewski, its musical director since 1983. The disc is sure to get some attention and personally, I think there are never enough recordings of pieces such as the Stabat Mater or Song of the Cherubim. The disc contains two world premiere recordings. Both are of arrangements: of the popular song Kaczka pstra and of the Aria from Three Pieces in Old Style (1963).

DUX 0697

And finally – a new Aleksander Tansman disc. Works for cello and piano. It contains the following pieces: Deux pieces pour violoncelle et piano (1931, a Pablo Casals), Sonate No. 2 pour violoncelle et piano (1930, a Maurice Maréchal), Fantaisie pour violoncelle avec orchestre ou piano (1936, a Gregor Piatigorsky), Partita pour violoncelle et piano (1955, a Gaspar Cassado), Quatre pieces faciles pour violoncelle et piano. Looks like quite a treat, though I can’t say the names of the performers, Jan Kalinowski – cello and Marek Szlezer – piano (who go by the collective name of the Cracow Duo) mean anything to me. Though I’m sure they will one day.