Penderecki: Orchestral Works Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Sopot & Wojciech Rajski

• Krzysztof Penderecki (b. 1933): Symphony No. 6 "Chinese Poems":
• 1Symphony No. 6 "Chinese Poems": I. Die geheimnisvolle Flöte05:23
• 2Symphony No. 6 "Chinese Poems": II. In der Fremde02:04
• 3Symphony No. 6 "Chinese Poems": III. Auf dem Flusse03:32
• 4Symphony No. 6 "Chinese Poems": IV. Die wilden Schwäne01:31
• 5Symphony No. 6 "Chinese Poems": V. Verzweiflung02:12
• 6Symphony No. 6 "Chinese Poems": VI. Mondnacht04:12
• 7Symphony No. 6 "Chinese Poems": VII. Nächtliches Bild04:25
• 8Symphony No. 6 "Chinese Poems": VIII. Das Flötenlied des Herbstes03:20
• Viola Concerto (Version for Clarinet, Strings, Percussion & Celesta):
• 9Viola Concerto (Version for Clarinet, Strings, Percussion & Celesta): I. Lento quasi recitativo06:31
• 10Viola Concerto (Version for Clarinet, Strings, Percussion & Celesta): II. Vivace04:52
• 11Viola Concerto (Version for Clarinet, Strings, Percussion & Celesta): III. Lento03:10
• 12Viola Concerto (Version for Clarinet, Strings, Percussion & Celesta): IV. Vivo02:54
• 13Viola Concerto (Version for Clarinet, Strings, Percussion & Celesta): V. Lento02:51
• Total Runtime46:57

Info for Penderecki: Orchestral Works

Two musical orders meet in the programme of this album, both with reference to the most broadly conceived music history and to the universe of Krzysztof Pendereckis output. Apart from the opera, which holds its own separate place, they are the two largest-scale formal orders in the musical art: those of the symphony and the concerto, which represent two fundamental ideas: respectively, those of co-operation and of competition. Krzysztof Pendereckis symphonic writing is one of the most important elements of his output as a composer, and possibly the most fascinating one. The composer himself frequently emphasized the autonomous identity of his symphonic oeuvre both in the context of Polish works in this genre and in the broad perspective of Western music.

The Clarinet Concerto is a one-movement form, whose clear-cut internal dichotomy is reflected in the sequence of sections: Lento Vivace Lento Vivo Lento. Two opposed emotional worlds manifest themselves alternately. The sighing motif, which looks to Baroque-type rhetoric, is responsible for the sombre mood of the first Lento. This is followed by a section of relentless motoric drive (in tempo Vivace), which sounds a bit like a perpetual motion machine. The next Lento, more Romantic than the first one, otherworldly and immaterial, leads to the second scherzo, preceded by a cadenza. The final section rounds off the whole narrative form, with the return of the sighing motif and the orchestra and soloists joint ascent to the heavenly heights. Despite the distance of more than 30 years that separates the Clarinet Concerto from Symphony No. 6, the two works are both evidence of a similar turn in Krzysztof Pendereckis artistic stance a turn from monumentalism to an intimate and internally lucid type of musical statement.

Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Sopot
Wojciech Rajski, conductor

Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Sopot
In February 1982, Wojciech Rajski brought together a group of talented Polish string players to set up an orchestra which he called “Polish Chamber Philharmonic”. After meticulous rehearsals, the string orchestra made its début at the Musical Theatre Gdynia and abroad at the opening of Schliessheimer Summer in Munich and 37th Summer Music Days Hitzacker. The young ensemble has delighted the public and critics which gave rise to numerous invitations to all German festivals and to the most important concert venues like Berlin Philharmonic, Gasteig in Munich, Gewandthaus in Leipzig, Musikhalle in Hamburg, Pleyel House in Paris, Musikverein in Wien and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Since 1984 the orchestra has performed also in an extended formation as a classical full orchestra and it has carried the name of Polish Chamber Philharmonic Sopot since then.

At the end of the 80s the orchestra gave about one hundred concerts every year especially in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, the USA, China, Japan, Belgium, Denmark, Luxemburg, Great Britain and other countries. In 1987 the orchestra gave 33 concerts in the United States playing among others in J. F. Kennedy Centre in Washington and Metropolitan Museum in New York. It visited the US for the second time in 1999. The ensemble was also in Asia. (China – 1990 and Japan – 1997). The philharmonic has cooperated with the worldwide famous soloists such as Mscislaw Roztropowicz, Borys Pergamentschikow, Natalia Gutman, Irene Grafenauer, Sabine i Wolfgang Meyer, Guy Touvron, Misha Maisky, Raphael Oleg, Gil Shaham, David Geringas, Gary Karr and Ivo Pogorelić. The best Polish soloists cooperate continually with the orchestra in Poland and abroad.

The ensemble takes part in the most prestigious European festivals including Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Rheingau Festival, Prague Spring, Weilburger Schlosskonzerte, Festival van Vlaanderen, La Chaise-Dieu and many others. Over 10 times the orchestra has attended the Musical Festival in Łańcut and at National Philharmonic in Warsaw for many times. In November 2010 the PCP gave 4 concerts during Chopin Festival in Geneva.

The Polish Chamber Philharmonic has recorded more than 60 CDs since the beginning. The first analogue long plays were recorded in 1983 for Wifon and Thorofon and since 1986 Philharmonic has recorded also for EMI, Midas, Claves, Sonomaster, Opus, Mediaphon, DUX and many others.

The recording of Piano Concerto in E minor of this CD is the first one recorded in versions for piano and strings orchestra.

After 15 years of waiting thanks to Sopot’s authorities’ and Baltic Artistic Agency BART’s efforts the Polish Chamber Philharmonic has lived to see its own seat located at the area of the Forest Opera in Sopot. The Polish Chamber Philharmonic is a cultural institution of The Pomeranian Voivodeship’s Local Government.

In 2012 the Polish Chamber Philharmonic Sopot celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Booklet for Penderecki: Orchestral Works