Penderecki – Piano Concerto „Resurrection“/Symphony No. 2 „Christmas
ARTISTS:
Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra
Andrzej Boreyko – conductor
Barry Douglas – piano
RELEASE DATE: 11/2022
CATALOGUE NO: ACD 299
GENRE: symphonic music, solo concert with orchestra
The Warsaw Philharmonic is releasing another disc recorded during the 2021/2022 season, devoted to the music of Krzysztof Penderecki. The Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and its conductor Andrzej Boreyko chose two works by Penderecki that represented a return to tradition in his creative process.
The Second Symphony (‘Christmas’) was written around the turn of 1980 to a commission from Zubin Mehta and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. This work refers stylistically to the music of Anton Bruckner, and it is hard to discern here any of the avant-garde means of expression typical of Anaklasis or Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima. Its gloomy, reflective character evokes the atmosphere in Poland at that time rather than the Christmas mood suggested by the title.
The ‘Resurrection’ Piano Concerto was born – in the composer’s own words – ‘of a neoromantic spirit’. Twenty years since its first performance in New York (Emanuel Ax, Philadelphia Orchestra cond. Wolfgang Sawallisch), this work has become a staple in concert halls around the world, appreciated by audiences and performers alike. In December 2007 the Irish pianist Barry Douglas, with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Krzysztof Penderecki, presented the work in its new version. And it is in that form and with the same soloist that the Concerto was recorded during concerts at the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall.
Krzysztof Penderecki (1933-2020)
Piano Concerto “Resurrection” 35‘16
1. Allegro molto sostenuto. Largo. Allegro molto. Allegro moderato. Allegro con brio. Adagio. Molto più mosso. Allegro con brio. Allegro moderato molto. Adagio. Allegro moderato molto
11‘50
2. Andante molto pesante. Agitato molto. Adagio. Più animato. Adagio. Allegretto capriccioso. Adagio. Grave. Andante con moto
9‘11
3. Allegro sostenuto molto. Molto largamente e capriccioso. Allegro agitato. Allegro molto. Andante maestoso. Molto tranquillo. Allegro molto. Andante maestoso. Allegro molto sostenuto (Tempo dell’inizio). Meno mosso. Adagio. Più animato. Più mosso. Poco meno mosso. Allegro con brio. Più mosso
14‘14
Symphony No. 2 “Christmas” 33‘22
4. Moderato. Maestoso. Poco più mosso 14‘17
5. Meno mosso. Lento. Allegretto 7‘29
6. Tempo I. Allegretto. Più mosso agitato. Poco meno. Tempo I: Grave. Maestoso. Lento 11‘34
Total time: 68‘43
