Composed by Witold Lutoslawski
Conducted by Roman Kofman
2. Symphony No.4
Composed by Witold Lutoslawski
Conducted by Roman Kofman
Lutoslawski: Symphonies, Nos. 2 & 4,Witold Lutoslawski,Roman Kofman,Cpo Records,20th/21st Century Symphony,Classical,Classical Composers,Classical Music,Orchestral & Symphonic,Symphonic
Average customer rating: 
|
Lutoslawski: Symphonies, Nos. 2 & 4
Manufacturer: Cpo Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  All Works by Lutoslawski
| Lutoslawski, Witold
| ( L )
| Featured Composers, A-Z
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Symphonies
| Forms & Genres
| Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
| Historical Periods
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Symphonies
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Modern & 20th Century
| Symphonies
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B000001S13 Release Date: 1997-04-22 |
Tracks:
- Sym No.2: Hesitant
- Sym No.2 Direct
- Sym No.4
Customer Reviews:
Revelatory readings.......2006-06-08
Lutoslawski's Second Symphony has widely been regarded as one of his more problematical works. Dating from the sixties, when he was working out many of the stylistic features that would define his music for the rest of his career, it is the first of his large-scale orchestral works to feature his trademark two-movement structure. The first movement, 'Hesitant', proceeds much as its title would suggest: short, jerky motifs, swirling around discordantly with no clear direction, before the second movement, 'Direct', suddenly assembles them all into vigorous, dissonant motion, leading to a huge brassy climax. In previous recordings I've heard, I've found the two movements often seem too stylised, but here Kofman makes the transition from chaotic, undirected motion into strongly linear writing most compelling--with a sense of forward momentum in the second movement that I haven't felt in the other readings I've heard (Salonen, Wit and the composer himself).
The composer's valedictory Fourth Symphony follows the same two-movement layout, and Kofman treats it with a similar approach. To my mind, he plays down the gloriously lyrical nature of the first movement too much for its own good (given the almost Mahlerian nature of its great clarinet melody and its subsequent development, it almost cries out for a Romanticised interpretation), but he is very strong in the second movement, which often comes across as too fragmentary and discursive. Once again, Kofman--in part through unconventionally slow tempi--pulls together a strong sense of development and unity, and ultimately the build-up to the climactic close is profoundly satisfying, feeling like the inevitable consequence of a growing symphonic momentum.
This is a very fine disc which I would recommend to all lovers of Lutoslawski's music.
Music Review:
- Marches & Military Music
- Mass in E minor / Libera Me / Aequalis No. 1 & No. 2
- Mendelssohn: Music for Organ
- Mozart: Complete Music for Flute
- Mozart: Six Piano Trios
- Mozart: String Quartets No. 18 / No. 19 (Quartets dedicated to Haydn)
- Mozart: Symphonhy No.40 & 41
- Music by John Dowland - The Extempore String Ensemble
- Music For Clarinet And Piano, Volume 2
- Plays Great Walcker-Aeolian-Skinner Organ
Music Review
Year of the Apocalypse [CD-single] [Import]
Crucifixus: Music for Holy Week
Highlights from the Plugged Nickel [Live]
Crossing [Import] [Original recording remastered]