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 Penderecki: Orchestral Works Vol 1 / Czepiel, Cracow Po
Release Date: 05/31/2005 
Label:  Dux Records   Catalog #: 475   Spars Code: DDD 
Composer:  Krzysztof Penderecki
Conductor:  Wojciech Czepiel
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cracow Philharmonic

Number of Discs: 1 
Recorded in: Stereo 
Length: 1 Hours 3 Mins. 

CD  $18.99
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Notes & Reviews   Works on This Recording  
 Notes & Reviews Back to Top 
This disc offers an intelligently chosen overview of Penderecki's non-vocal work, from the avant-garde screeching and atmospheric effects of the famous Threnody and Anaklasis, to the more approachable but no less serious symphonies and later pieces. Passacaglia and Rondo in fact eventually became part of the Third Symphony, while the Second was one of the first major orchestral works to document the composer's return to traditional tonality and sonority. Both are impressive, dark pieces, and don't think for a minute that the Second Symphony's subtitle, "Christmas", implies festive holiday cheer.


Still, much of the music is quite beautiful, in its grave and intense way, similar to Penderecki's much-admired Shostakovich or, perhaps more relevantly in purely aural terms, Allan Pettersson. The performances by the Cracow Radio forces are uniformly impressive. The orchestra has plenty of power, seems to enjoy making the plethora of strange sounds the avant-garde works require, and is very sonorously recorded. Placing the Passacaglia and Rondo first on the disc was smart: its initial build-up is unremittingly intense and projected here with real physical impact. The Second and Third Symphonies are also available on Naxos, very well done by Antoni Wit and Co., but as a single-disc collection of some of Penderecki's most representative work, this disc is valuable and entirely recommendable.

--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
 Works on This Recording Back to Top 
1.  Passacaglia and Rondo by Krzysztof Penderecki
Conductor:  Wojciech Czepiel
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cracow Philharmonic
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1988 
2.  Symphony no 2 "Christmas" by Krzysztof Penderecki
Conductor:  Wojciech Czepiel
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cracow Philharmonic
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1979-1980; Poland 
3.  Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima by Krzysztof Penderecki
Conductor:  Wojciech Czepiel
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cracow Philharmonic
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1960; Poland 
4.  Anaklasis by Krzysztof Penderecki
Conductor:  Wojciech Czepiel
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cracow Philharmonic
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1959-1960; Poland 
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