Szymanowski: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3

✅ This product is in New/Sealed Condition.

Review The performances of both symphonies have a confidence and warmth about them that bespeaks a thorough understanding of Szymanowski's richly textured idiom. The Song of the Night (a.k.a. Symphony No. 3) has many of the same qualities that made Wit's Mahler Eighth so special: terrific choral singing, a bigness of conception that never precludes physical excitement, and very natural balances between vocal and instrumental forces. The Straussian Second Symphony is a much tougher work conceptually, and here it seems to me that Wit could have asked for a sharper rhythmic edge to the string playing in the first movement, and perhaps a bit more contrast between the variations of the finale. The large acoustic that so benefits the Third Symphony also blunts the edge of this purely instrumental piece, but the fact is that a good deal of the problem lies with the work itself--its not quite resolved conflict between structure and musical idiom--and Wit's performance remains as fine as any currently available. Certainly this very enjoyable (and very inexpensive) disc should satisfy any fan of this splendid but still underrated composer. -- ClassicsToday.com, David Hurwitz, June 2008 These are performances of great affection and, typically for Wit, sound totally idiomatic. -- Gramophone.co.uk Product Description Composed in 1910, at a time when Szymanowski was influenced by Richard Strauss, Reger and Scriabin, the unusually structured Symphony No. 2 is a work of great power and invention.
ASIN: B0013JZ4GC
VSKU: COV.B0013JZ4GC.N
Condition: New
Author/Artist:Antoni Wit|Karol Szymanowski|Warsaw Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra
Binding: Audio cd