Witold Lutosławski - Orchestral Works Vol. 4 (Tasmin Little; Edward Gardner)

Information

Composer: Witold Lutosławski

• Symphony No. 1
• Partita, for Violin and Orchestra with Piano obbligato
• Chain 2, Dialogue for violin and orchestra
• Preludia taneczne, for Clarinet Solo, Percussion, Harp, Piano, and Strings

Tasmin Little, violin

Michael Collins, clarinet

Elizabeth Burley, piano

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Edward Gardner, conductor

Date: 2013

Label: Chandos

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Review

Lutosławski’s First Symphony (1941 47) may be stylistically impure, with, for instance, some barely assimilated Roussel in the opening Allegro giusto and Hindemith in the finale, but it is less the product of a compositional ‘cul-de-sac’ than a touchstone for later developments; indeed, the fourth of the invigorating Dance Preludes (1954, orch 1955) and, indirectly, the Partita (1984, orch 1988) feed from it. (There is a deep-seated interconnectedness in this composer’s output, as Adrian Thomas elaborates in his booklet-notes.)

Decades ago, Jan Krenz and the composer both set the First Symphony down with the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the latter’s authoritative account being reissued several times. Gardner’s with the BBC Symphony Orchestra is easily the best-played with the most vivid sound (although Salonen has recently recorded it, finally completing his Los Angeles cycle). Gardner’s interpretative decisions vary from Lutosławski’s, swifter in the fast movements, very slow in the Poco adagio (accidentally undermining Thomas’s description that this movement is ‘almost twice as long’ as the first: here it is well over twice). The composer had the balance between them just right but Gardner is very persuasive.

Pairing Lutosławski’s violin concertos Partita and Chain 2 (1984 85) makes sensible programming; what a shame Chandos omits the Interlude (1989), intended by the composer to form a triptych – unlike Naxos, which reversed the order! Little is a match technically for Mutter and the oddly detached Bakowski, and her playing is audibly warmer than either. With superior Chandos sound, this is now the version to have. In the much-recorded Dance Preludes, Collins proves as brilliant a soloist as any, not least Fröst’s account, which I reviewed last year, or Stoltzman, hitherto the market leader. Highly recommended.

— Guy Rickards

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Witold Lutosławski (25 January 1913 – 7 February 1994) was a Polish composer and conductor. Educated in Warsaw, he initially drew inspiration from Polish folk music, gaining international recognition with works such as Concerto for Orchestra (1954). From the late 1950s, he developed innovative compositional techniques involving controlled aleatoricism, carefully structured musical materials and distinctive harmonic systems. Despite political pressure under postwar Stalinist rule, Lutosławski maintained his artistic independence. His major works include four symphonies, concertos and chamber compositions.

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Edward Gardner (born 22 November 1974) is an English conductor. Educated at the University of Cambridge and the Royal Academy of Music, he began as a choral conductor and répétiteur before advancing to major roles. He served as music director of English National Opera (2007–15) and later held key positions with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Bergen Philharmonic (2015–24), where he became honorary conductor. Since 2021, he has been principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with tenure extended to 2028. Gardner has recorded for EMI Classics and Chandos Records.

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