Krzysztof Penderecki - Symphonies Nos. 1 & 5 (Antoni Wit)

Information

Composer: Krzysztof Penderecki

• (01) Symphony No. 5
• (02) Symphony No. 1

Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Antoni Wit, conductor

Date: 2000
Label: Naxos
https://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.554567

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 10 / SOUND QUALITY: 10

Penderecki’s Symphony no. 5 is a significant advance over No. 3, which was presented in Vol. 1 of Naxos’ series devoted to the composer’s orchestral music. Here Penderecki has crystallized and refined his mature style. The Fifth is in one movement, yet commands attention throughout, its highly contrasted sections generating the excitement of watching a great work unfold. The dark introduction utilizes repeated notes to such a degree that it calls to mind the works of Giacinto Scelsi. An aggressive, high-intensity fugue that could have come from a Shostakovich string quartet follows. In fact, the spirit of Shostakovich informs much of this work, especially in the trio of the scherzo, where the orchestration and caustic waltz parody pay homage to the great Russian master. Shadows of Lutoslawski hover over the mighty extended climax that storms near the end of the work. But in truth, Penderecki has created his own musical language, accomplishing his goal of combining the traditional with the new, similar to what Mahler did in his time.

The Symphony No.1 is from the end of Penderecki’s earlier avant-garde period (1973). As such it features many of the experimental compositional devices that made him famous. What sounds like seven loud slaps (a flogging?) begin the first movement. Other curious percussion sounds join in to be followed by rapidly plucked strings and later the full orchestra. Penderecki creates an endless stream of novel and captivating orchestral effects, many of which have been imitated by other composers. In the fourth movement, for example, we hear the squealing woodwinds, tuba blasts, and yelping horns that would later be found in the scores of, for example, John Corigliano (especially his soundtrack to Altered States). Whether this type of music has staying power over time is hard to say, but there’s no denying it makes a powerful initial impact.

Antoni Wit once again has carefully prepared and masterfully performed his teacher’s challenging music, and the Polish Radio National Symphony is behind him 100 percent in every bar. Naxos’ sound is beautifully clear, full, and dynamic. At this price, don’t give it a second thought. Buy it.

-- Victor Carr Jr, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
http://www.classical-music.com/review/penderecki-5
http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/n/nxs54567b.php
https://www.naxos.com/reviews/reviewslist.asp?catalogueid=8.554567&languageid=EN
https://www.amazon.com/Penderecki-Orchestral-Works-Vol-Symphony/dp/B00004HYN6

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Krzysztof Penderecki (23 November 1933 – 29 March 2020) is a Polish composer and conductor. He studied music at Jagiellonian University and the Academy of Music in Kraków. Penderecki has composed four operas, eight symphonies and other orchestral pieces, a variety of instrumental concertos, choral settings of mainly religious texts, as well as chamber and instrumental works. Among his best known works are Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima, Symphony No. 3, his St. Luke Passion, Polish Requiem, Anaklasis and Utrenja. In 2012, The Guardian called him the Poland's greatest living composer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krzysztof_Penderecki
http://www.krzysztofpenderecki.eu/en/

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Antoni Wit (born February 7, 1944 in Kraków) is a Polish conductor. He studied with Henryk Czyż, Krzysztof Penderecki and Nadia Boulanger. He has recorded over 90 albums, most of them for the Naxos label, and many of them with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice, of which he managed and was artistic director from 1983 to 2000. Since year 2002 he has been music director of the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra. Wit specializes in the works of Polish composers such as Henryk Gorecki, Witold Lutosławski, Karol Szymanowski and Krzysztof Penderecki.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoni_Wit

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