Witold Lutoslawski - Orchestral Works 2 - Edward Gardiner, BBC SO - Chandos CHSA 5098 (2012) SACD rip via PS3 to iso (3.35GB) | Classical http://www.amazon.com/Orchestral-Works-2-Louis-Lortie/dp/B0069TWD42/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1347212166&sr=1-2 Originally recorded in: DSD A hugely varied collection for this 2nd volume of Chandos' Lutoslawski cycle. Opening with the early Symphonic Variations of 1936-38, Gardner draws not only a rhythmically vital response from the BBC SO but manages to imbue the somewhat abstract "theme" and its subsequent variations with emotional power; the close is highly reminiscent of Schoenberg's first chamber symphony & gets an ecstatic response from the BBC SO brass. The long-time Chandos piano stalwart Louis Lortie joins proceedings for the much later Piano Concerto (1987-88) that was written for Krystian Zimerman. Unlike some concertos of C20, this closer to the Brahmsian dialogue with the orchestra of his second piano concerto than the Lisztian virtuoso display model where the piano is pitted against the orchestra. Like the second piano concerto of Brahms', Lutoslawski's has 4 clearly identifiable movements; unlike the Brahms, these movements are joined seamlessly together to form a near 30-minute span of music. Lortie plays with enormous authority, blending extraordinary virtuosity with musicianship that guides the listener through the work as if for the first time. For an encore, the same forces perform Lutoslawski's 1978 orchestration of his 1948 Variations on a Theme of Paganini in scintillating style - it comes across in orchestral guise of this quality as a harmonically angular take of Rachmaninov's more famous work. To close, Gardner presents a formidable account of the 22-minute Symphony No. 4 (1988-92). Starting out from stasis in the strings, Gardner chooses tempi that accentuate the moving lines whilst keeping the tension of the lower string writing. As with the far more compact Symphonic Variations, the closing flourish is exuberantly done and provides a satisfying end. The Chandos recording is one of its best: a sonic halo surrounds the notes with only very slight obscuring of detail or blurring the sharp attack of the BBC SO in the more acerbic moments. Recommended Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994) Symphonic Variations (1936-38) 9:29 1 Andante - 1:41 2 Allegro - Stesso movimento 2:41 3 Adagio - Andante - 3:22 4 Allegro non troppo - Subito poco meno mosso - Vivace 1:45 Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1987-88) 26:20 For Krystian Zimerman 5 1 dotted crotchet=c. 110 - crotchet=c.70 - 5:41 6 2 Presto (crotchet=c. 160) - Poco meno mosso - Lento 4:41 7 3 quaver=c. 85 - Largo (crotchet=40 - 45) - 8:13 8 4 crotchet=c. 84 - Poco meno mosso - Pił mosso (crotchet=c. 110) 7:44 Louis Lortie piano 9 Variations on a Theme of Paganini (1978) 8:44 for Solo Piano and Orchestra Arranged by the Composer from a Work for Two Persons (1941) Allegro capriccioso - Meno mosso - Poco lento - Allegro molto - Pił mosso - Louis Lortie piano Symphony No. 4 (1988-92) 22:24 10 crotchet=c. 55 - crotchet=c. 80 - quaver=c. 160 -7:08 11 crotchet=c. 85 - crotchet=c. 115 - Tempo i (crotchet=c. 85) -5:04 12 Lento (dotted crotchet=c. 60) - Tempo I (dotted crotchet=c. 85) - crotchet=c. 100 -6:12 13 dotted crotchet=c. 70 - crotchet=c. 60 -3:04 14 crotchet=c. 160 - 170 -0:53 Total time:67:25 BBC Symphony Orchestra Edward Gardner Recorded in: Walthamstow Assembly Hall 29 and 30 June 2011 Producer(s) Brian Pidgeon Sound Engineer(s) Ralph Couzens Jonathan Cooper (Assistant)