Lutosławski considered carols an element of a broader national tradition, and taking on this subject after World War II was an act of returning to normality.
Composition History
The orchestral version of Lutosławski's carols was created four decades later, between 1984 and 1989, at the initiative of the British.
Performer Biography
Aleksandra Kurzak, the soprano on this album, was the first Polish woman to sign an exclusive contract with the Decca record company.
Recording & Production
This album is part of the ongoing "Witold Lutosławski. Opera omnia" phonographic project by the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic.
Composition History
Witold Lutosławski's first version of these carols, for solo voice and piano, was commissioned in 1946 by Tadeusz Ochlewski, then head of Polish Music Publishers.
Compositional Technique
Lutosławski often placed traditional melodies in new harmonic contexts, juxtaposing simple diatonic melodies with unconventionally harmonized accompaniments.
Performer Biography
Antoni Wit, the conductor on this album, has recorded over 250 albums, including complete orchestral works by prominent Polish composers, and has sold over six million copies worldwide.
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