A Century of Polish Piano Miniatures – Anna Szałucka
I.J. Paderewski: Humoresques de concert, Op. 14: Book 1, “À l’Antique”; K. Szymanowski: 20 Mazurkas, Op. 50 (excerpts); G. Bacewicz: Piano Sonata No. 2; H.M. Górecki: Intermezzo; P. Mykietyn: 4 Preludia; M. Górecki: Piano Sonata; A. Panufnik: Modlitwa [Prayer] (arr. R. Panufnik)
Anna Szałucka – piano
Grand Piano GP793 (available on NAXOS, November 2018)
A Century of Polish Piano Miniatures takes us on a fascinating journey through a golden era in Polish music, from the great patriot Paderewski via Szymanowski, Bacewicz and Górecki, to present-day composers. This essential collection coincides with Poland’s centenary of independence in 2018 with each work representing significant moments in the country’s musical and political history. It pays tribute to the bravery of composers who stood up for freedom in art and culture during times of great political turmoil.
Penderecki, Szymanowski, Panufnik – Atma Quartet
Karol Szymanowski: String Quartet No. 2 Op. 56; Andrzej Panufnik: String Quartet No. 3 “Paper-cuts”; Krzysztof Penderecki: String Quartet No. 3 “Leaves of an Unwritten Diary”
Atma Quartet: Katarzyna Gluza and Paulina Marcisz – violins, Karalina Orsik-Sauter – viola, and Dominika Szczypka – cello
CD Accord ACD 252
According to the Atma Quartet:
The idea for recording this album emerged from the need to capture what we believe has been artistically unique in our two-year-long work together. When selecting the pieces, we wished them to become a coherent musical space, such that we would feel comfortable to be in and such that it might coincide with our musical sensitivity. Owing to the fact that it is our debut album, and we are a Polish quartet, we opted for works by Polish composers: Karol Szymanowski, Krzysztof Penderecki and Andrzej Panufnik. Each composition recorded here was written at a different time, and each had originally been conceived with a different set of ideas in mind. And yet, we hope to have found something that all three have in common. It is the courage with which bold, novel compositional concepts are implemented on the one hand, and the enthralling vitality of Polish folklore that lies at the core of our cultural heritage on the other.
Wajnberg / Tansman / Czajkowski – Wajnberg Trio
Mieczysław Wajnberg: Piano Trio Op. 24; Aleksander Tansman: Trio for piano, violin and cello; Andrzej Czajkowski: Trio notturno Op. 6
Piotr Sałajczyk – piano, Szymon Krzeszowiec – violin, Arkadiusz Dobrowolski – cello
CD Accord ACD 247
The Wajnberg Trio consists of renowned chamber musicians who every day engage in artistic activities in many fields – the pianist Piotr Sałajczyk, the violinist Szymon Krzeszowiec and the cellist Arkadiusz Dobrowolski. They share a fascination with the life and work of the outstanding Polish composer, Mieczyslaw Wajnberg, and the passion for performing chamber music.
The Wajnberg Trio made its debut in 2016 during the 20th edition of the Tansman Festival in Lódz, and its repertoire is primarily the works of 20th century Polish composers. This CD – containing works bu three Polish émigré composers: Mieczysław Wajnberg, Aleksander Tansman, Andrzej Czajkowski – is the first in the ensemble’s output.