Romuald Twardowski: Violin Concerto, Spanish Fantasia & Other Works

Featuring

Mariusz Smolij
Kinga Augustyn
Toruńska Orkiestra Symfoniczna
Romuald Twardowski

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Recording & Production

This recording was made possible by generous sponsorship from the City of Toruń and produced under the patronage of PWM Edition as part of the TUTTI.pl project, promoting Polish music.

Compositional Technique

The 'Serenade' for string orchestra, which includes an 'oberek full of fire and vigour' in its final movement, provides one of the few identifiably Polish accents in Twardowski's works on this album.

Composition History

Twardowski's 'Spanish Fantasia' was inspired by flamenco music he heard during a trip to Spain, using original material to absorb the spirit of Andalusian music.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Composer Romuald Twardowski states that clarity of expression is the most vital issue in his work, preferring the logical Bach or Lutosławski over Ravelian orchestration or Szymanowskian impressionism.

Composition History

Twardowski's 'Niggunim' ('Melodies of the Hasidim') uses authentic melodies of Hassidic Jews collected from regions in Poland and Ukraine, aiming to preserve remnants of a nearly extinct Polish Hassidic culture.

Performer Biography

Kinga Augustyn, the award-winning New York City-based concert violinist, originated the idea of recording all of Romuald Twardowski's works for violin and orchestra.