The Essential Lutoslawski

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2007-12-10 rating:
Almost Essential
This pair of discs gives a fine survey of Lutoslawski's more direct and approachable music. It's extensively conducted by the composer himself, which adds something in authenticity (even if some might wonder if it perhaps loses a touch in dynamism). Some of the performers are wholly first rate - Dieskau, Argerich and the Holligers all make distinguished contributions. Les Espaces du Sommeil will be more familiar to many when sung by tenor but it comes off well here. I am a big fan of the 4th Symphony which is missing here - do search out the very excellent disc made by Esa-Pekka Salonen of this and the 3rd, which for me is a rosette-quality disc of Lutoslawski's two finest symphonic pieces. br /I confess to being a little puzzled by the programming - both discs open with heavyweight pieces (the 3rd Symphony is his most Mahlerian utterance), ignoring the chronology of composition which would surely have been more helpful. But you will surely enjoy the Berlin Philharmonic's contributions. And the music itself - well I remain amazed that the later masterpieces are not performed much more often. Who in recent years has written great climaxes and vast tragic epilogues to match that of the third symphony, or atmospheric, lyric conciseness to match the fourth ? br /Finally I say "almost" essential Lutoslawski because whilst he and his music are essential post-war listening, you should not be without the Los Angeles Philharmonic's wonderful disc of the 3rd and 4th which surely is even more essential.

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