Wajnberg was arrested in 1953 and accused of 'Jewish bourgeois nationalism,' but was released after 11 weeks due to Stalin's death and Shostakovich's intervention.
Performer Biography
Piotr Sałajczyk, the pianist on this album, is a versatile soloist and chamber musician who dedicates much effort to contemporary music, participating in numerous world premiere performances.
Historical Context
Wajnberg composed his Piano Quintet in 1944, while receiving tragic news from Poland, and later learned his family had perished in the Trawniki concentration camp.
Composer Biography
Mieczysław Wajnberg, a Polish composer, discovered the works of Shostakovich and Mahler during his time in Minsk and Moscow, which greatly inspired him.
Performer Biography
The Silesian Quartet is one of Poland's leading chamber music ensembles, having performed internationally in venues like Carnegie Hall in New York and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Wajnberg's music was criticized for 'formalism' and for lacking 'sufficient optimism and shortage of exultation,' as well as for distinct references to Jewish musical tradition.
You might also enjoy...
Borodin Quartet Performs Quintet & Quartet No. 8
Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 3 & Piano Quintet
