This CD – containing works by three Polish émigré composers: Mieczysław Wajnberg, Aleksander Tansman, Andrzej Czajkowski – is the first in the ensemble’s output.

His music fascinates with the scale of expression, the intensity of dramatic appeal and attention-grabbing musical narrative. Hartmann wrote with extraordinary verve, creating artistic phrases with a broad ambitus, at the same time he could masterfully juggle short motifs, subjecting them to elaborate variational and contrapuntal transformations.

These three works – Opp. 66, 80 and 85 – were composed in a period when he lived off memories, which is also evident in his choice of texts for his vocal works.

The Silesian Quartet’s most recent release under the CD Accord label is the first in the series of Mieczysław Wajnberg’s complete chamber works with string quartet.

The only ensemble of this kind in Poland and one of few of this class in Europe.

There is, however, another common denominator for their work – all of them were hugely successful in writing film music. Korngold codified its modern canons ruling to this day.

Chamber music is seen as the highest level of initiation into music making, requiring from players both soloist talent and collaborative skills, a similar understanding of music, a creative atmosphere and sometimes even readiness to compromise.

The idea of an album featuring works written specially to the Lutoslawski Quartet is strictly connected with the celebrations of the European Capital of Culture Wroclaw 2016.

The recording was made by Zbigniew Pilch on a historical instrument with gut strings. The bow used is a copy of a bow from the turn of the 18th century.