PANUFNIK: Old Polish Suite; Concerto in Modo Antico; Jagiellonian Triptych; Old Polish Music – Divertimento after Janiewicz; Hommage a Chopin – Igor Cechoco, trumptet/ Hanna Turonek, flute/ Polish Changer Orchestra/ Mariusz Smolij – Naxos

by | Feb 18, 2008 | Classical CD Reviews | 0 comments

PANUFNIK: Old Polish Suite; Concerto in Modo Antico; Jagiellonian Triptych; Old Polish Music – Divertimento after Janiewicz; Hommage a Chopin – Igor Cechoco, trumptet/ Hanna Turonek, flute/ Polish Changer Orchestra/ Mariusz Smolij – Naxos 8.570032, 57:58 ***:

Sir Andrzej Panufnik (1914-1991) became chief conductor of the Warsaw Philharmonic after WWII, and was regarded as the father of the Polish avantgarde. With the imposition of Soviet realism, he fled the country and settled in England where he headed up the Birmingham Symphony for two years, 1957-1959. After becoming a British citizen in 1961, he devoted the rest of his life to composing, often accepting commissions from some of the leading artists of the day.

It was a desire to restore some of the olden Polish music that led to the creation of the works on this disc. He took many different modes of inspiration from old houses, religious artifacts, and even music from composers of Poland’s rich past, including Chopin. This is an interesting idea for a concept album, but I must be honest in reporting that the music on this release leaves little lasting impression. It is all quite tonal, with anachronisms like the harpsichord thrown in to give it flavor, and has some genuinely lovely moments. But overall there is nothing that sears itself into the musical memory. Trumpet players will find much to savor in the Jagiellonian Triptych, a three movement piece that feature the instrument extensively, and the Old Polish Suite would make a nice recital on some school programs; but I am afraid that the rest simply doesn’t register as truly inspiring music.

The performances are fine, the sound a little constricted, with the orchestra sounding rather small. I am sure this is very meaningful for some people, and it might fill some collection gaps.

— Steven Ritter
 

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