Krzysztof PENDERECKI (b.1933)
Viola Concerto (1983) [20:21]
Cello Concerto (1982) [37:12]
Grigori Zhislin (viola)
Tatjana Vassiljeva (cello)
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra/Antoni Wit
rec. Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, Warsaw, 2-5 September 2008. DDD
NAXOS 8.572211 [57:33] 
This is a compelling addition to the already impressive series of Naxos CDs
devoted to the music of one of Europe's most important living composers. These
two substantial works by Krzysztof Penderecki date from the early days of
the period where he was, in his own words, "saved from the avant-garde
snare of formalism by a return to tradition". In other words, any listener
not enamoured of the post-war hardcore European modernism in which Penderecki
more than dabbled - as his renowned Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima
or the notorious De Natura Sonoris I and Fluorescences testify
- can safely read on.
Nevertheless, neither the Viola nor the Second Cello Concerto can be construed
as especially easy listening. The music is a heady mixture of neo-Romanticism
and early modernist elements, employing a language that both Shostakovich
and Bartók would have recognised, yet going beyond the relatively mainstream
idiom of his 'Christmas' Symphony. In character both works are certainly darksome,
a sense of menace never far off - perhaps a reflection of difficult times
in communist Poland. The bleak, eerie strings-only opening of the Second Cello
Concerto is particularly memorable: the work was written for and premiered
by Mstislav Rostropovich and is as relentlessly Cimmerian as any Penderecki,
or any other composer for that matter, has written. Confrontational, multi-climactic
and superbly scored, this is one of Penderecki's key works. The Viola Concerto
is notably shorter and less spectacular, but is nevertheless stylish and accessible,
providing also a convenient route into the sterner challenges of the Cello
Concerto.
Guided by the expert but still underrated Antoni Wit, the excellent Warsaw
Philharmonic give surely award-winning accounts of these demanding scores.
The Russian soloists are majestic too: intuitive, expressive and virtuosic.
This is Grigori Zhislin's first recording for Naxos, but he knows the Viola
Concerto very well by now: a friend of Penderecki's, he gave the Russian premiere
of the composer's Violin Concerto, and then took up the viola at Penderecki's
request in order to be able to give the premiere, a quarter of a century ago,
of his new Viola Concerto! Some may recall Tatjana Vassiljeva's only
other recording for Naxos, her 'Cello Recital' (8.555762) almost a decade
ago, on which she performed the Sonatas of Britten and Debussy among other
works. Naxos released that in their occasional 'Laureate Series', in which
they showcase award-winning newcomers. The surprise is that it took them so
many years to re-record someone of Vassiljeva's great talent.
Sound quality is very good. The booklet notes are informative, albeit focused
on a step-by-step guide to the music. Despite the short running time, for
anyone new to Penderecki, but perhaps familiar with Shostakovich's symphonies
and concertos, this disc is an ideal place to begin what should be a thrilling
exploration.
Byzantion
Collected reviews and contact at reviews.gramma.co.uk
Surely award-winning accounts of these demanding scores.