Mieczyslaw Karlowicz: Symphonic Poems, Vol. 1

Karlowicz (Composer), Wit (Conductor), Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Wit
• Composer: Karlowicz
• Audio CD (August 26, 2008)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B001BLR7DA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #229,963 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Polish Composer Finally Gets His Due, September 28, 2009

By 

J. Rich - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mieczyslaw Karlowicz: Symphonic Poems, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

Mieczyslaw Karlowicz is a relatively obscure composer. He's not discussed hardly ever in classical circles or on Internet forums. Karlowicz's life was cut way too short. He was killed in an avalanche while skiing. There's no telling what he could have done had he lived longer. Most of the music he composed is in a late-Romantic vein.

There are several sets of Karlowicz's orchestral music on different labels: three recordings on Chandos with various conductors and orchestras and two on Naxos with Antoni Wit with either the Warsaw Philharmonic or the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. I have not heard the Chandos recordings, but this Wit recording acts as a great introduction into Karlowicz's sound-world. I have read some people prefer these performances to the series on Chandos. I'm not really sure as with everything, it's about subjectivity. All I know, is Wit and the Warsaw Philharmonic turn in a remarkably intense performance in this Naxos release. "Stanislaw and Anna" will blow your roof off! The audio quality is also a big plus on this recording. All sections of the orchestra are well-defined and clear.

If you're looking to get more into Polish classical music that's outside of Chopin or Szymanowski, then look into Karlowicz's music. Highly recommended.

Mieczyslaw Karlowicz: Symphonic Poems, Vol. 2
Karlowicz: Rebirth Symphony; Bianca da Molena; Serenade
Stanislaw & Anna / Symphonic Poem / Eternal Songs
Karlowicz: Returning Waves; A Sorrowful Tale; Episode at a Masquerade

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth a try, January 21, 2009

By 

Martin Kantor (Asbury Park, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mieczyslaw Karlowicz: Symphonic Poems, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

Lovely, brooding music with some good tunes you will want to hear over and over again. A good companion to his violin concerto, which is highly underrated.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Polish Composer to Reckon With!, March 4, 2010

By 

Michael Lee Davis "Mikie" (Finland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mieczyslaw Karlowicz: Symphonic Poems, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

This entirely satisfying disc of late-romantic music by the relatively unknown composer Mieczyslaw Karlowicz will leave you wondering "WHY is this man's music so obscure?"

I, for one, have not found a satisfactory answer to that question.

These lovely, dream-like Symphonic reminiscences are an excellent introduction to the etherial Karlowicz sound. The rich, elegant orchestration and sparkling 'Richard Straussian' harmonies will simply blow you away!

The Naxos recording is spacious and sumptuous with plenty of air around the instruments. Antoni Wit, likewise, gives gorgeously expansive readings of Karlowicz's breathtaking scores.

If your only experience of Polish composers is Chopin and Szymanowski (and possibly Moszkowski and Paderewski), then prepare to be bowled over by this young Pole who left only a handful of symphonic masterpieces as a testament to his overwhelming genius.

Very highly recommended.