Customer Reviews

Penderecki: Orchestral Works, Vol. 4

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I think I've been reading too much 19th-century music criticism lately. Back then the height of music commentary was to write a descriptive program to go with the music - you know, Liszt saying that the slow movement of Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto was Orpheus taming the Furies, or Schumann calling the Fourth Symphony a Norse giant between two slender Greek maidens. But when I listened to these two violin concerti by Krzysztof Penderecki (b.1933) my imagination went wild, supplying pictures and scenario, and I was never able to get rid of them. So now, you lucky folks, I'll share them with you. [Read no further if, like me, you don't ordinarily go for this sort of thing.]

The First, a one movement mammoth, begins with a solemn introduction in the low strings and timpani, setting the stage for the Pastor (the solo violin) to mount the lectern and begin his sermon. Picture Orson Welles as Father Mapple in the movie of 'Moby Dick.' His tone is now declamatory, then haranguing, now imploring, then minatory. Sometimes his rhetoric is so intense that he speaks in long unaccompanied cadenzas that are as virtuosic as they are impassioned. Sometimes he almost loses control of himself in his desire to convey his message, and sparks fly. Ultimately he flings out a Cassandra-like warning before he, exhausted, lapses into silence.

Konstanty Kulka, the violinist in the first concerto, is a middle-aged Polish violinist whose playing reminds me of David Oistrakh. He has a big, burnished tone with an intense vibrato which he uses here in the service of a larger-than-life performance, perfect for the rhetoric of this larger-than-life concerto. The piece itself often reminds me, in tone but not in construction, of the Passacaglia movement from Shostakovich's First Violin Concerto, but expanded to an almost 40-minute length. Imagine that degree of passion for that length of time! Kulka pulls it off. I have not heard the recording by Isaac Stern, the concerto's dedicatee, but knowing his playing I'd assume it is wonderful; I think it is still available.

The second concerto, subtitled 'Metamorphosen' and also in one large movement, is an altogether different animal. Written in 1994-95, twenty years after Penderecki wrote the First Concerto, it is an introspective work. If the First is an Oration or a Sermon, the Second is a Soliloquy. This set of variations (structurally it is just that) conjure up the inner struggle of a young man caught up in a tragedy of passion (picture Anthony Perkins as Hippolytus to Melina Mercouri's Phaedra; the step-son having an affair with the step-mother that each is powerless to break off and which ultimately ends in tragedy). Hippolytus (the violin soloist) moons, yearns, becomes agitated with inner conflict, tries to break away, struggles (a masterful fugal passage), and ultimately gives in and is destroyed, sadly, quietly, resignedly.

The violinist here is the young American-trained Korean, Chee-Yun, whose tone is slenderer, silvery, more fine-grained than Kulka's, but still intense and passionate when necessary. There can be an inward, almost improvisatory quality to her playing that fits this soliloquy nicely. Again, I have not heard the recording of the Second Concerto's dedicatee, Anne-Sophie Mutter, but can only imagine that it, too, is quite fine.

Antoni Wit, conducting the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (Katowice), provides solid, musical, flexible support for the two soloists, and during the fairly rare orchestral passages - the soloists are front-and-center throughout most of these concerti - reveals an ability to shape the material dramatically. I was especially struck by the opening tutti of the First Concerto: it unequivocally sets the stage for the Sermon to come by signalling 'this is important - pay attention!'

Once again Naxos has given us really special performances of important music in warm and refulgent sound, and at bargain prices. Whatta deal!

Scott Morrison

As people can tell, not every violin concerto that's been created in every era sounds exactly the same. You have those that express Romantic lyricism (Tchaikovsky, Brahms), those that have a touch of mysticism (Sibelius), and those that feature wild modern harmonies (Stravinsky). Basically, all of them have their own distinct sounds and atmospheres. Penderecki's own violin concertos have unique qualities of their own as well. Premiered in 1977 (First) and 1995 (Second, "Metamorphosen"), both have one single movement instead of the usual three or four (both with a length of about forty minutes). Both are very capricious with tempi, tone, and harmony. Most important of all, both have very complex orchestrations. Imagine how many times the violinists have rehearsed for these stunning works. These are not what you call "carefree music": these are intense compositions that can cause goosebumps.

J. Scott Morrison has already described in detail how lovely these recordings are, so I don't think I have to say much. Antoni Wit and the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra are outstanding, and same can be said for the violinists. Both Konstanty Kulka (First) and Chee-Yun (second) give splendid performances; these are some of the finest violin playing I've ever heard. So if you're willing to check out these two modern concertos for the violin, purchase this CD at once. I don't think you'll regret it.

Both of the violin concertos are in one movement, each a little less than 40 minutes long. The 1st Concerto for Violin and Orchestra contains constant changes in the moods and tempos, of the themes played by both the orchestra and the solo violin. For the most part, there is stability between the full orchestra and the solo violin. However, there are periods in which the full orchestra and solo violin play different themes, which do not complement each other. This does give a dynamic sound to this Concerto. To me, it appears that the full orchestra dominates this piece, as opposed to the solo violin. This Concerto is well orchestrated. The 2nd Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, which is also well orchestrated, bears the title "Metamorphosen". This Concerto consists of constant variations and developments of themes throughout the entire piece. In this Concerto, the solo violin and the full orchestra continuously complement each other. There are a few sections in this piece, in which the violinist can show off her skills. This recording is a "must have" for fans of Penderecki and/or violin concertos.