Louis Lortie/BBC Symphony Orchestra/Edward Gardner Lutoslawski: Orchestral Works II (Chandos)
The major attraction here, with all due respect to the great Concerto for Piano & Orchestra of 1988, is the Symphony No. 4, because there have only been (to my knowledge) four previous recordings of it. All of them are reputed to be excellent, but I have only two to compare it to, both conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. He makes it sound by turns more mysterious and more passionate, and also more taut; this new one has more spectacular sonics and presents the work more as a piece of abstract modernism. With Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994) one of the top five Polish composers ever, and one of the better 20th century composers, alternative versions of his masterpieces are worth having, and this one is very welcome.
There are twice as many recordings of the Piano Concerto, but the clear preference lies with Krystian Zimerman,...
The major attraction here, with all due respect to the great Concerto for Piano & Orchestra of 1988, is the Symphony No. 4, because there have only been (to my knowledge) four previous recordings of it. All of them are reputed to be excellent, but I have only two to compare it to, both conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. He makes it sound by turns more mysterious and more passionate, and also more taut; this new one has more spectacular sonics and presents the work more as a piece of abstract modernism. With Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994) one of the top five Polish composers ever, and one of the better 20th century composers, alternative versions of his masterpieces are worth having, and this one is very welcome.
There are twice as many recordings of the Piano Concerto, but the clear preference lies with Krystian Zimerman,...
- 3/31/2012
- by SteveHoltje
- www.culturecatch.com
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